"I'm puttin on my Top Hat"

Top Hat, 1935
Top Hat



I've never heard anyone really talk about this movie very much. I'm excited to finally see a movie with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers though.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

There really isn't a lot to say about this movie. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't one of my favorite movies that I've seen to date. The comedy aspect of the movie though was absolutely wonderful. I loved all the miscommunication between the Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, and Helen Broderick. Considering the year it was made, I imagine the movie was very funny. However because we have become a more sex-driven and less conservative society, I think a movie like this would have had more success on TV in an episodic sit-com than as a feature length film if it were released today. Certainly all the great dance numbers would be cut from the movie and I would imagine more sexual jokes and situations would have been added for an audience today.

I also have to point out how fabulous all of the wardrobe was throughout the movie, with the one exception being a black dress with sheer sleeves that Ginger Rogers wears half way through the movie.

Although the black dress is made up for and almost completely forgiven when we get to see Ginger and Fred dance together while she is wearing this:

Final thoughts: I'm glad that I was finally able to watch a movie with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Despite the high regards and iconic status both hold still hold today, I don't know that there would have ever been an instance in which I decided to watch this movie. I sometimes bring up the idea of remaking older movies, and this one that I think we've borrowed ideas from but I don't think it should ever be remade.

OFFICIAL COUNT 45 DOWN 320 TO GO

Next up: Inglorious Basterds

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, 1982
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Restored) [Blu-ray]



I'm really excited about starting the second movie out of the five movies that comprise my mini Star Trek marathon. It's going to be really tempting to not watch this movie before I receive the episode from the TV series, "Space Seed" from Netflix. I've heard from a lot of people that the second movie is much superior to the first, so I'm really excited about the movie.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

Everyone was right about this movie, the second movie is much superior to than the first movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture. In general, I just enjoyed the story around the sequel more than I enjoyed the first movie, and I also felt as though the second movie had better pacing than the first movie.

I am also incredibly thankful for having been advised to watch, "Space Seed" before watching the sequel. The episode, from my understanding, is the first time the audience is introduced to Kahn. The episode is essentially provided me with a background story for Kahn as well as his history with Kirk. While I agree that watching the episode from season one of the TV series isn't necessary, if given the time and opportunity I would strongly recommend watching it before the movie.

Overall though, I thought the movie was great. Even the TV episode, "Space Seed" wasn't awful. While it's true that "Space Seed" was more dated than the movie, I actually kind of liked watching both the TV episode and the movie. The most difficult thing about watching the TV episode though was hearing all the references to the 1990s and the multiple attempts to genetically engineer an ideal human race. I'll be the first to roll my eyes, and call it what it is - knit picking, but it kind of made me laugh a little bit because nothing that radical actually happened in the 1990s.

Final Thoughts: The movie surprised me with the way it had ended. Maybe because Star Trek's secrets had been better kept than Star Wars, I had no idea Spock would be killed off. It took away from the story when I knew even before watching any of the Star Wars movies that Luke and Leia were siblings and I knew who Luke's father was all along. It was similar to watching the last Harry Potter movie that was released in theaters with The Boyfriend. I'm not sure how, but he had managed to avoid one of the biggest Potter plot points of the entire series. He watched the movie for the first time and didn't know that in the end, Snape was going to kill Professor Dumbledore.

OFFICIAL COUNT 44 DOWN 321 TO GO

Next up: Top Hat

The Bicycle Thief

The Bicycle Thief, 1948
The Bicycle Thief



This is another movie, among so many, that I don't know a single thing about.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

This movie was a lot darker and more depressing than I had expected it to be. I typically like for the characters I watch in movies to have things go there way in the end, but this poor guy just couldn't catch a break. He was offered an amazing job during a downturned economy, working for the city posting billboards around town, and the only real requirement for the job was that he needed to have a bicycle. His wife is able to scrape together a few things around the house, from her dowery in order to buy the bicycle back from the pawn shop. On the man's  first day on the job his bicycle is stolen.

The remaining time is spent with man and his son who go on a big adventure trying to find his bicycle, which he never manages to find. Despite his best efforts finding his bicycle is really like trying to search for a needle in a haystack. I think in nearly every scene after his bicycle is stolen there are other people with their bicycles in the background. Although I really didn't understand why he didn't try to rent a bicycle from someone for a couple of days until he was able to purchase a new or used one to replace the one that was stolen from him. Surely something could have been able to have been worked out when you consider the wages he would be making with his new job.

The thing that bothers me the most about the subject matter in the movie though is how willing a lot of people are to steal things from someone else. I mean, a bicycle standing alone alongside a building is easier to steal than a piece of artwork in a museum, but people are still willing to go to great lengths to steal these items. I see or hear about it at least once a week and it just makes me sick to my stomach. I guess I just don't understand why people feel the need to take things that don't belong to them.

Final thoughts: I really wanted this man to be able to find his bicycle. I wanted him to be able to go to work and earn an honest living in order to support his family. I can't say I was really surprised when he felt as though stealing another man's bicycle was his only option, but for his own sake I am glad the proper owner of the bicycle decided not to press charges.

OFFICIAL COUNT 43 DOWN 322 TO GO

Next up: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Week 8 Announced

The titles for week 8 are:

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, 1984
Star Trek III - The Search for Spock (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)



Predator, 1987
Predator (Ultimate Hunter Edition) [Blu-ray]



High Noon, 1952
High Noon (Two-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition)



Fried Green Tomatoes, 1991
Fried Green Tomatoes (Widescreen Collector's Edition)



LA Confidential, 1997
L.A. Confidential (Two-Disc Special Edition)



The Last Picture Show, 1971
The Last Picture Show: The Definitive Director's Cut (Special Edition)



Network, 1976
Network

Stripes

Stripes, 1981
Stripes (Unrated Extended Cut)



I was a little tempted to cheat and go watch this on Memorial Day at the Enzian this year before the 365 Movie Challenge officially started, but decided against it. The reason is because I really want to stay true to being able to watch all 365 movies from June 15, 2010 - June 15, 2011. Sure I could have seen the movie and started the write up earlier than I announced, but I would have felt as though I cheated had I started the challenge early. I want this to be an honest challenge for myself, and if I were to cheat I realize I would only be cheating myself out of feeling like I truly accomplished something at the end of the year.

I'm really excited that this movie is finally up on the list. I love Bill Murray and I'm completely comfortable with any dated references from the 1980's or late 1970's that this movie might have.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

I love this movie and I ended up watching it twice. The first time I watched the theatrical version of the movie and the second time I watched the extended version of the movie, which I now prefer. The first time I watched the theatrical version I felt like there were a couple of missing pieces. The extended version felt more complete and actually has one of my favorite scenes when Bill Murray and Harold Ramis try to leave basic early by posing as officers on a plane with a group of Green Berets.

We've all heard a lot of stories from G.I.'s who have gone through basic training about all the horrible types of physical activity and all of the push ups required, but I loved the attitude Billy Murray's character kept throughout basic and his attempts to escape at night. John Candy also stuck out in his role to me. I loved the idea that someone like him would have joined the Army and continued to convince the other men in his platoon to make his bed because that was policy when you're in Italy.

It really surprised me though to learn after reading about it online that the movie was originally intended to be another Cheech and Chong movie in which the duo decide to join the Army. I've never really been into stoner comedy, so I'm incredibly thankful that the movie was rewritten and modified for Bill Murray. Knowing Bill Murray's from Saturday Night Live and some of the other roles it didn't really surprise me to learn that a lot of the lines in the movie were improved. While I will typically agree that some of the things an actor can come up with on the fly and while they're in the moment are better than what a writer can come up with, but it makes me cringe a little as a Script Supervisor.

I just wanted to point this out because I think it's a fun little bit that kind of dates the movie. It's suspected in the movie that Bill Murray and Harold Ramis take the EM 50 Urban Assault Vehicle to East Berlin. The movie was made in 1981 when Germany was still divided into two parts: Eastern and Western Germany. It would be another eight years before the Berlin Wall, which was built to physically divide the country would come down.

Final thoughts: I love this movie and I couldn't imagine what it would have been if it had been another Cheech and Chong movie. Insert eye roll here, because I just don't think it would have been as good of a movie if it had been full of stoner comedy. I think it just worked out better in the end that the movie was shaped into a story about a Platoon made up of guys who are just aren't able to really make the grade.

OFFICIAL COUNT 42 DOWN 323 TO GO

Next up: The Bicycle Thief

Guess who is going to watch Aliens now!!

Aliens, 1986
Aliens (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)



Because I've heard so many people tell me that I need to watch Aliens, I'm going to finally see the movie! It won't be a part of the 365 Movie Challenge, but I'm still going to write about the movie in the same fashion I do for those that are part of the 365 Movie Challenge.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still, 1951
The Day the Earth Stood Still





Each week before I start watching the next list of movies, I send out a mass text or email to my friends in hopes of borrowing DVDs and trying to find someone who might want to watch some of the movies with me. I didn't expect to get the response I got back about The Day the Earth Stood Still, having not really realized there was a bit of breakdown in the lines of communication. Apparently there are two versions of this movie. Perhaps better known or recognized as, "The good one and the the shitty Keanu Reeves one."

I'm both equal parts excited and just okay with watching this movie. At the very least though, I'll be watching "the good one and not the shitty Keanu Reeves one" - right?

After having watched the movie:

(Possible spoilers below)

I loved this movie, and now I'm starting to think maybe Science-Fiction isn't what I thought it would be. 

First of all, I didn't expect for the movie to be in black and white so that was a pleasant surprise. However, my absolute most favorite thing about the movie though was that it took place in Washington D.C. It's similar to what a lot of people say about The Sound of Music, I really enjoyed the scenery. It was exciting to watch the movie and to be able to recall the day I spent in the city with my family when I got to see a lot of the same buildings and National Monuments for the first time. It made the movie feel a bit more personal. However, the cast and a large majority of the crew never actually set foot in the city as the film was shot on the backlot of 20th Century-Fox. All of the footage from Washington D.C. was shot by a second unit crew and was carefully cut in around action sequences and was used as backdrops. The scenes then with Bobby and Carpenter were also part of the second unit and were shot using body doubles.

I also thought it was incredible that the spaceship was made out of plaster of paris, wood, and wire. I guess even though I realize there is a bit of "movie magic" involved in every production I forgot that a lot of times cheaper materials and supplies will still read the same way on film as a more expensive and authentic piece. And just to clear things up, I'm not suggesting that I thought they used an authentic spaceship borrowed from Area 51. I had just automatically assumed some type of fiberglass or plastic had been used in place of plaster of paris. This of course may also be a great reason as to why I have never worked in the Art Department.

As far as the story goes, well I was buying it up until the time Mr. Stevens decided he was going to be a hero by reporting the whereabouts of Carpenter to the authorities. I felt like the story was was paced well enough up until the last ten minutes. It was almost as though the writer realized he was at the top of page 90, and realized he needed to quickly wrap things up or risk not selling his screenplay. Maybe that's a bit of a stretch, but the ending and last few scenes seemed to come together almost too abruptly. I know from reading online there was a deleted scene from the end of the movie, and I'm willing to bet that's the scene I needed to make the movie feel more bridged together than it was.

Final thoughts: Apparently Patricia Neal and I were on the same page. She reportedly had a hard time taking the movie seriously during production, thinking it was just going to be another trashy-flying saucer movie. It was said that she had no idea realized that this movie would become one of the greatest Science-Fiction movies of all time. I too certainly hadn't expected to like the movie when I watched it for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised.

OFFICIAL COUNT 41 DOWN 324 TO GO


Next up: Stripes

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Star Trek: The Motion Picture, 1979
Star Trek - The Motion Picture: The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)

So this is where it all started, right? Or was the TV show was first? 


I'm not sure, but either way I've decided to start this adventure now with Star Trek mostly because I kind of just want to be able to power through the movies. I don't really think I'm going to like this even a little bit just because I feel like it's going to be incredibly dated. I also think it's going to be kind of awful in the way that the majority of sci-fi channel movies are really bad. Although I'll  be completely honest and say that I felt the same way before I watched the first three Star Wars movies, but I ended up liking those enough. So, who knows maybe I'll surprise myself with this one too.

I have however seen the newest Star Trek movie, which was released in 2009.


So, here's the game plan: I've put together a five-week plan, starting today, in order to knock the Star Trek series out of the way. Each week I am going to watch one of the four Star Trek movies and in the fifth week I will conclude the mini five-week Star Trek challenge with the documentary Trekies.

After having watched the movie:

(Possible spoilers below)

Alright, I was wrong. The movie isn't incredibly awful in the same way that so many Sci-Fi Channel movies are bad. Again, Sci-Fi isn't really my thing but I really liked this movie.

The hardest part about watching the movie was having to break it up into two parts in order to finish the movie. When I tried watching the movie last night I continually caught myself having to back the DVD up because I kept falling asleep, so in this instance I think it was necessary to pick it up again first thing in the morning. Although, I think I would have really enjoyed the movie a lot more if I had been able to watch it in one sitting. I kept getting antsy when I watched the movie again this morning. Which seems kind of strange because I it was during the climax of the story.

Overall though I really liked the movie. I was surprised to find that the movie wasn't as dated as I had anticipated the movie being. I had expected poor effects by the standards we have today as well as sub-par writing and elements included in the story. I think a lot of these low expectations for the movie came from the negative things I've always heard associated with the movies and TV series. I don't think I have ever had a friend or really known anyone who would identify themselves as a Trekie.

Final thoughts: I wonder how my feelings about this movie would have differed if at all had I not seen the newest Star Trek movie first. I mean, I liked this movie enough on it’s own but I felt like having a better idea of who Spock and Kirk were made the movie easier for me to watch. I don't know that I
would consider myself a Trekie, but I'm looking forward to watching the second movie now.

OFFICIAL COUNT 40 DOWN 325 TO GO


Next up: The Day the Earth Stood Still

Hero

Hero, 2002
Hero Special Edition (2-Disc Blu-ray with DVD + Digital Copy)[Blu-ray]



To be perfectly honest, I don't know what this is going to be about. I mean, I think we can all agree on the fact that there is going to be a bit of martial arts involved based on the cover art alone.

I added the movie to the 365 Movie Challenge, because it seems that when people start talking about movies with martial arts this title always comes up. I don't think it would be a big surprise to a lot of people, but martial arts movies (with the exception of The Karate Kid) aren't really my thing either. I'm going into it though with an open mind. I'd hardly be surprised if I end up liking the movie a lot. But at the very least, I hope it's pretty.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

This is one of those movies that almost as soon as you put it in, it's starting wether you're ready for it or not. I actually had to back the DVD up because I was talking through some of the title pages that explains the political situation China finds itself in at the time. At this time China is not a united country and continues to be at war with itself.

The movie is stunning and incredibly visual; however it does little to make up for the fact that the subtitles are barely on the screen long enough to really read what each character is saying. The biggest problem I had while watching the movie was keeping the male characters separate. I know it might sound racist and equally tacky to say, but it's not easy to distinguish between Nameless and Broken Sword at first. I also hadn't realized the movie was going to be told from two perspectives, first from Nameless's point of view and then the Kings perspective only before finally learning how all the events truly came together. At the very least I appreciate the different use of colors for each version of the story.

Final thoughts: I thought the movie was pretty, but the story was a little confusing and hard to follow. A couple of times I had to pause the movie and ask Wil for a quick recap to make sure I understood the story. However, I think if I were to re-watch the movie for a second time now knowing what the story is about I would absolutely love the movie.

*I also feel like I should say something about the martial arts that were involved with the movie, but I don't know anything about the subject matter. So, I'll just say the stunts seemed to be effortless and absolutely well done.

OFFICIAL COUNT 39 DOWN 326 TO GO

Next up: Star Trek

Lucky Number Slevin

Lucky Number Slevin, 2006
Lucky Number Slevin (Widescreen Edition)



I remember so well when this was in theaters. I can even remember which theater the movie was playing in at the Winter Park Regal Cinema, because I saw it on the red LED sign when my friends and I went to go see some other movie. Kind of strange right? My friends who did see the movie in theaters really liked it, and I mean it can't be too bad right?

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

I don't know why this movie was so hard for me to sit down and watch when I first tried to watch it on Wednesday night. It was actually kind of ridiculous, because dishes that had been sitting in the dishwasher all day became my biggest priority. I mean, really? It wouldn't have hurt the dishes to sit in the dishwasher that much longer, but I decided to turn the movie off and try it again on Friday when I got off of work. Sure it would mean trying to watch two or three movies that day, but I thought I could do it.

Friday came along and I was really dragging behind. I think I had about 3.5 hours of sleep the night before, but I needed to stay on top of things and watch at least two movies that day. Wil really came through for me when I was about to fall asleep on the couch by texting me to make sure we were still going to watch a couple of movies that day. (Thanks Wil!)

I don't know what it was about the movie the second time I tried watching it, but Lucky Number Slevin was much easier to watch on the second attempt. I'm willing to chalk this one up to peer pressure. Now that Wil was going to be coming over and in a sense would be helping me power through these movies I felt like there was no turning back. It may have also helped that there were no dirty dishes to be found in my apartment at the time.

I have to first start out by saying that I loved this movie. I thought it was fabulous, but I can't really say I was too surprised by the story. While I think it was incredibly ballsy for the writer to tell us within the first five minutes of the movie what a Kansas City Shuffle was. A Kansas City Shuffle, as explained by Bruce Willis in the movie, is when everyone else is looking left and you look right. Of course this is a perfect example of one of the biggest affects film school has had on the way I watch movies today.

I'll always remember one of the key ideas to story telling that I learned when I was in school, and that's how in life we are always killing time. We kill time by stopping by the book store to flip through a couple of magazines before going to the movies, or by grabbing a cup of coffee somewhere. In movies though, time is always killing us. As story tellers we would love to be able to explain in great detail about how wonderful our hero is, but we don't really need to see him helping an old lady cross the street and serve dinner at a homeless shelter on Thanksgiving to get that general idea. That being said, in any movie, short film, or TV show you will never be told or shown anything that generally doesn't progress the story. The only exception to this, is if something is either said or shown intentionally as a red herring. A great story teller will carefully place clues throughout the movie that only after we've finished watching the movie do we realize why the killer was always wearing black.
Don't believe me? Watch an episode of Medium and you'll see that I'm right.

So when I was told within the first five minutes of the movie there was going to be a red herring, I kind of hard my guard up. I didn't generally take each character at face value, and questioned many of the things they did and said at first. Eventually, I got so wrapped up in the story that I stopped questioning many of the characters except for Lucy Liu's character. I just couldn't buy her playing the "girl next door" who was ready and so willing to help solve Slevin's biggest problem. I expected her to play a larger part in the plot than she actually did, but I think it was done intentionally that way as part of the red herring. I've warned people about spoilers already, this is the final warning. Without her character we never would have seen the emotional side of Slevin throwing the whole story out the window.

I also didn't understand why we saw the flashback to 1979 as narrated and introduced to us by Bruce Willis before he explained what a Kansas City Shuffle was. Although I want to point out just how fantastic the Production Designer was, because many of the residential settings revolved around Slevin were very retro and had a very strong 70's influence. This was more than likely done on a conscious level so that as an audience we would subconsciously associate Slevin with the story from 1979. It was done well too, because it wasn't until about halfway through the movie that I suspected that Slevin was the kid from the 1979 flashback.

It wasn't until Slevin finally started playing detective while out to dinner with Lucy Liu and was able to point out The Fairy's bodyguards that I started questioning him. The once Slevin walks into The Fairy's apartment, so easily finds the hidden room and emotionlessly kills The Fairy that I ultimately suspect he has kept something from us. Also aiding and adding to the level of suspension was the complete disregard and lack of respect Slevin seemed to have for The Boss and The Rabi.

Final thoughts: I loved the movie and thought it was brilliantly written. There were subtle hints as to Slevin's real identity carefully placed throughout the movie, which when done well the audience isn't able to pick up on. As a kid we realize he's a big baseball fan, and a couple of times Slevin makes smart remarks about baseball and even commits murder via a fast ball. The only big clue or aid we're given is Lucy Liu's character for her inquisitive nature and ability to pick up on subtle things like the story Slevin tells us about being mugged when first arriving in the city.

OFFICIAL COUNT 38 DOWN 327 TO GO

Next up: Hero