Week 18 Announced!

The titles for week 18 are:

It Might Get Loud, 2008
It Might Get Loud



The Color Purple, 1985
The Color Purple



Ed Wood, 1994
Ed Wood (Special Edition)



Bonnie and Clyde, 1967
Bonnie and Clyde



Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, 1967
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (40th Anniversary Edition)



The African Queen, 1952
The African Queen



Cool Hand Luke, 1967
Cool Hand Luke (Deluxe Edition)

National Geographic: Inside the U.S. Secret Service

National Geographic: Inside the U.S. Secret Service, 2004
Inside the US Secret Service

I don't really expect to get a lot of answers, but I'm hoping this documentary does what it promises and provides us with a closer look at the agency that investigates counter fit and protects the lives of the United States Presidents and their family.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

I was a little surprised that the documentary would be centered around a single event in President George W. Bush's life, as he speaks at an LSU Graduation Ceremony during his term as President. Were given a guided inside look into all the preparation that goes into any appearance made by the President. Which I wasn't really too surprised to find out was very extensive. The documentary also discusses some of the more tragic moments in our history: presidential assassinations, presidential assassination attempts, and even the attempts made on Presidential Candidates.

If you've ever had the opportunity to attend a debate or any public speaking event by either a Presidential Candidate or the President you've probably noticed first hand some of the measures which the Secret Service take. I remember when I was in high school and President George W. Bush came to a neighboring town and spoke at a tank plant. It was kind of a pain, because there were roads that had been blocked off, people were restricted to certain areas, and the scariest part were all the snipers who were stationed on various rooftops. It was kind of scary to see, because for the first time I realized how authentic and possible all of the threats on the President's life are.

Also during the same time frame the documentary was made, one of my distant cousins was working as Secret Service Detail for Presidential Candidate John Kerry. It wasn't until two or three years after the fact that I realized this though. But the point is that it makes what he did the much more interesting to me now.

Final thoughts: I think this documentary is kind of a cheap thrill, but I completely took the bait. Anytime we're offered the chance to look behind doors that typically kept sealed shut we jump at the chance. Of course there were still things in the documentary that were kept private, a little odd maybe but I'd love to know which President has received the most threats on his life. Don't judge me, you're a little interested in knowing too you just never said it out loud.

OFFICIAL COUNT 109 DOWN 256 TO GO

Next up: American Graffiti

Offically putting the 365 Movie Challenge on hold

Because of the demanding schedule from the movie that I'm working on, I'm going to have to put the 365 Movie Challenge on hold. That doesn't mean I plan on extending the 365 Movie Challenge 3 weeks, it just means that I'm going to fall behind because of the movie I'm working on and will have to play catch up for a few weeks.

What's really the bottom line: I'm going to keep watching movies when I can, I'm working 13 hour days sometimes more, and really won't have the kind of time over these 3 weeks to watch, write and post about every movie like I normally would have. Look for posts to start again around October, 25.

Believe me, I wish I didn't have to post pone it like this, but I don't know that I really have any other option. I promise to come up with something pretty awesome to make up for the time off.

Week 17 Announced!

The titles for week 17 are:

Driving Miss Daisy, 1989
Driving Miss Daisy (Keepcase)



Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)



Girl Interrupted, 1999
Girl, Interrupted



Back to the Future II, 1989
Back to the Future Part II



Back to the Future III, 1990
Back to the Future Part III



Loose Change, 2006
Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup



The Third Man, 1949
The Third Man - Criterion Collection (2-Disc Edition)

The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker, 2008
The Hurt Locker



I thought I'd start my Sunday out watching this movie and then maybe switch to a comedy so the day doesn't end on such a heavy note. I know even before watching this movie, it's going to be intense.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

OMG! This has been the most intense and maybe the scariest movie I've seen from the 365 Movie Challenge to date. And before you start rolling your eyes I mean scary as in, this movie is intense. I don't think there has ever been a movie that has made me hold my breath and sit on the edge of my seat the way this movie did. There were so many times where I was nervous and scared to death thinking that at any moment one of the Iraqi citizens were going to shot and kill one of the soldiers or set off an IED.

James Cameron was right to push Kathryn Bigelow to direct this movie. Cameron has even gone on record saying, "I think this could be the Platoon for the Iraq War." I typically don't like James Cameron and the majority of the things he has to say, but damn Kathryn Bigelow hit this one out of the park.

Until recently I wasn't directly connected to anyone who has served either in Iraq or Afghanistan, the only couple of exceptions were a few of the guys I graduated with. Thankfully, all of them have been lucky enough to make it home since their deployment. Within the last six months I learned that my friend Ashley's husband would be working to disarm bombs and IEDs for the United States Army. Ashley, I know things have been crazy lately but I don't think this is movie you should watch until 2015 at the earliest. A lot of times when I watch movies I try to put myself in the characters situation and I don't think I could ever muster up enough courage to walk into a blast zone for an IED and attempt to disarm a bomb. I realize there's always a bit of movie magic added to these stories, but if this has any real merit to what a typical day is like in Iraq - Wow.

Final thoughts: This movie gives you a new perspective on what soldiers face every day in Iraq, and it's terrifying. There were so many scenes and moments in the movie that I couldn't believe these characters were put in this situation. Situations where I would just want to cuddle up and cry and wish like crazy I could be back home again. I found this image from the movie. It was the first real moment when I thought, "OMG he's just going to die."

OFFICIAL COUNT 108 DOWN 257 TO GO

Next up: National Geographic: Inside the U.S. Secret Service

Hotel Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda, 2004
Hotel Rwanda



After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

I'm going a little off of my typical format, because after watching the movies there aren't really words that can express what my thoughts were before the movie. Like a lot of the movies in the 365 Movie Challenge, I hadn't really seen or heard anything about this movie. The only comments I got from people when I told them I would be watching this movie was, "Oh. Good luck" or "Yeah, that's a pretty serious movie." I realize now, after watching the movie, that they were right.

I think there are times in life when we realize we're really onto something and there's a chance it might be great. Those are the projects and stories that once we start writing them, the stories and characters become so real and powerful that they begin to tell you their story. Sometimes I think maybe we stumble upon the ideas in the same way I kind of stumbled onto the 365 Movie Challenge, or maybe it's something we have always aspired to do. After watching this movie and reading more about Paul Rusesabagina, I have no doubt that this was one of those stories.

Watching the movie there were moments when I thought about how lucky I have been that I have not had to experience some of these horrible things first hand. The greatest part of the movie though, I think the most powerful part of the movie, is the commentary which features Keir Pearson and Paul Rusesabagina. Keir is mindful enough to use the commentary as a platform for Paul to shed more light on the genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994. I also found online a wonderful article from National Geographic which I think also explains what was going on during the genocide.

Final thoughts: It's a shame that these kind of genocides are going on around the world and people have turned away from helping and rescuing some of the victims. I would love to see that more could be done, but I don't know how to go about solving these kind of problems. I was in middle school during the genocide that occurred in Rwanda, and in high school when problems started arising in Sudan. There continues to be little media coverage about these world events, but there we receive numerous accounts and stories that come out of the Middle East.

For those who are interested in learning more about the genocide in Sudan, Darfur, there is information as well as a way to donate to the cause at Save Darfur.

OFFICIAL COUNT 107 DOWN 258 TO GO

Next up: The Hurt Locker