The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music, 1965
The Sound of Music (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Special Edition)



The only media exposure I've had with this movie hasn't been surprisingly low considering how loved it is by everyone. I already know a lot of the music, I mean it's done by Rodgers & Hammerstein, which I think is fairly difficult to avoid. I've also seen the Will & Grace The Sound of Music episode a couple of times, which I really liked. Now in time for it's 45th Anniversary, I'll be watching it for the first time. I remember watching on The Today Show when the cast members, who of course since then have all grown up, were on promoting the 40th Anniversary of this movie.

After having seen the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

OMG this is nearly a three hour movie. I clearly didn't realize this when I added it to my list. To be honest, I think the only thing that got me through the movie was the fact that I didn't know how it ended. Of course some of the plot points were rather obvious, but I had expected the movie to end just after the wedding. Which I think it could have and would have made for a fine movie, but that's not exactly how Rodgers & Hammerstein work.

I understand why it was loved and well received when the movie first came out in 1965, but I think it's one of those movies that a lot of people hold in high regard as a classic even though many of them have only seen it once or have never seen the movie. When I mentioned that I was planning on watching it to a couple of friends, it was kind of hard to get anyone really interested in watching it with me. They were all kind of okay with just passing on this one, so I watched it by myself.

Final thoughts: I think the saving grace for this movie was the music, and of course Julie Andrews who at this point is just royalty. It was much longer than I ever anticipated it being, but I liked it. I don't think I liked it enough to want to buy it or watch it again. Although to be completely honest, I don't think there will be any movie that I want to see for a while once I finish the 365 Movie Challenge.

OFFICIAL COUNT 25 DOWN 340 TO GO

Next up: Beer Wars

East of Eden

East of Eden, 1955
East of Eden (Two-Disc Special Edition)



Oh dear. John Steinbeck always makes me a little antsy and I tend to hold my breath and brace myself until I have a better idea of what to expect. I'm a little upset that I won't have the opportunity to first read the book before I watch the movie, as I was able to with both Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath. However, if East of Eden turns out to be anything like The Grapes of Wrath, then perhaps this will actually work out in my favor. Overall, I like a lot of the Steinbeck's work, and I'm anxious to watch my first James Dean movie.

I'd like to point out that I read every-single-sentence from The Grapes of Wrath. Unlike some of my classmates that year, and the book was awful. I think they pretended to like it just as they pretended to read it - just to irritate me.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

I felt as though I held my breath the entire time I was watching this movie, waiting for something bad to happen. It does eventually, but I think watching the movie this way is a bit of a mistake. There is always a lot of talk about how important it is to be able to connect with the characters and the importance of building a bond so that as the story unfolds you care about these people, I think by holding my breath I was also holding myself back from really connecting with any of the characters. It's kind of a scary moment, but from this point on with any other Steinbeck media (books or books turned movies) I'm going to take a deep breath, close my eyes and jump right into whatever story he has to tell.

Almost exactly a year ago, I decided to start watching the entire series of 90210 since I had never seen it before. I loved Donna Martin, but just couldn't buy into Luke Perry's, Dylan McKay. He seemed too troubled and bothered by life, which was the same way James Dean's, Cal in East of Eden. I know James Dean died young and is remembered for his role in Rebel Without a Cause, I just hope there is another movie or role where he didn't have to play a troubled and bothered by life teenager.

If Luke Perry was the James Dean of the 1990's, then I think it's fair to say the two leads in the Twilight cast Robert Pattinson, who is in the middle of a neck-to-neck race with Kristen Stewart would be considered the James Dean of today. And just wait one minute before you start rolling your eyes, because "James Dean is a much better actor than any of the people in Twilight... blah, blah, blah." This is strictly from the medias "too bothered by life teenager/young adult" portrayal of youth.
For the record, I can't stand Bella from the Twilight series and frankly I think the whole series is considerably over-rated. I read the books after I turned twenty-one. Had I read them when I was sixteen or seventeen I am sure I would treat them as if they were the holy grail.

Final thoughts: If you can work your way past James Dean playing the "bad son" and his character reminding the audience of his bad boy status throughout the movie, it really is a great story and movie. Overall I really enjoy Steinbeck, but you shouldn't watch this movie if you're looking for something that will cheer you up.

OFFICIAL COUNT 24 DOWN 341 TO GO

Next up: The Sound of Music

The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption, 1994
The Shawshank Redemption (Two-Disc Special Edition)



This is one of those movies that because I wasn't even 10 years old at the time, I feel like it's not as bad or big of a deal that I haven't seen it. I know that's not exactly the best excuse, but based on the cover alone, nothing about it really draws my attention.

This is also a great example of a movie that is on my list, as part of the 365 Movie Challenge, that I've only heard people say, "it's a great movie" but they have never really said more than that. Which makes me wonder if I'm going to like the way the movie ends. I have a little bit of a nervous energy about the movie. I'm excited to finally see it and I'm anxious about watching it and then trying to write about it, if it truly is a movie that after seeing you can't explain why you enjoyed it.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

To all of those people who have told me how great The Shawshank Redemption is, you were absolutely right. Although after watching the movie, I don't know that it's really too hard explain which aspects of the movie allow this one to stand out against so many other movies. I think the thing we like the most is the story. It's a story where we get to root for the underdog, a man who has been wrongfully convicted and has no hope left of ever regaining any part of a normal life again, and then sharing in his triumph as the story ends.

Final thoughts: It's a different kind of "feel good" movie than The Blind Side, but it's like Forrest Gump.  Whenever it's on TV you just know it's what you're going to be doing for the next 2.5 hrs.

OFFICIAL COUNT 23 DOWN 342 TO GO

Next up East of Eden

I was completely blindsided by The Blind Side

The Blind Side, 2009
The Blind Side



I was completely blindsided by Sandra Bullock, and her role in this movie. I remember having a conversation with my Grams when this movie was first released in theaters about who the better actress was: Sandra Bullock or Meryl Streep. Despite the fact that this movie stars Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep can do no wrong in my book. The argument I made against Sandra Bullocks' acting career was that even though comedy can at times be more difficult, she has never really had the kind of roles Meryl Streep has had. Sandra Bullock, to me, seems to typically be casted in Romantic-Comedies, Comedies, and Thillers that do okay but are never phenominal the way Meryl Streep has.

And then BAM! out of no where comes Sandra Bullock in this amazing new movie that everyone is talking about. I'm excited to see it. I can't wait to see Sandra Bullock in a more serious role. I of course already know the story line, but I'm excited to see it all play out.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

There are certain movies that come along like Avatar that kind of raise the bar, and then there are those that find their way into our hearts. This was exactly the kind of "feel-good" movie I had hoped and expected it to be. It is rather predictable, but if you're able to make your peace with it sooner rather than later you'll want a "Big Mike" of your own by the time the movie ends.

I won't go as far as to say that Sandra Bullock didn't deserve her Oscar win, but I wouldn't say the role really pushed Sandra Bullock as far as acting is concerned. It did however allow us to see her in a different light which was refreshing. For me though, the win did feel a little like an over-all career win rather than a win based solely on her performance in this movie.

Final thoughts: Although I still prefer Meryl Streep to Sandra Bullock, it was nice to see her (Sandra Bullock) in a different role. Not to mention the fact that I think she played the part beautifully. I should also note that I don't regret the fact that I ended up buying this movie in order to watch it in time. It will be one of the movies that I will watch again and again. Mostly because it's a "feel good" movie that makes me feel like the world isn't always a cold, dark place.

OFFICIAL COUNT 22 DOWN 343 TO GO

Next up: Shawshank Redemption

Week 5 Announced

The titles for week 5 are:

City of Lost Children, 1995
The City of Lost Children



Dr. Zhivago, 1965
Doctor Zhivago (45th Anniversary Edition)




Sweeny Todd, 2007
Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street



Goldfinger, 1964
Goldfinger [Blu-ray]



Pulp Fiction, 1994
Pulp Fiction (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)



Sunset Blvd., 1950
Sunset Boulevard: Centennial Collection




Sin City, 2005
Sin City (Two-Disc Theatrical & Recut, Extended, and Unrated Versions) [Blu-ray]

AVATAR!

Avatar, 2009
Avatar (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]



Dear World:

I'm that one person out of 6 billion who hasn't seen Avatar. Despite what you might imagine, I assure you, I am not a hermit and I don't live under a rock somewhere in the Dark Forest. I've just always thought that one day I would finally watch Avatar.

Well that day has finally come.

Best Wishes,

Brittney

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

I actually couldn't make words happen for at least ten minutes after the movie ended. I can't believe I didn't see this in theaters! I like 3D, but I don't think I could have handled watching this movie in that format. I feel like it would have easily been too much information for me to process at one time. Secondly, even though I really hate to admit it, James Cameron is kind of a genius or at the very least still knows how to make an absolutely amazing movie.

The only "problem" and again it's kind of one of those small things that leads people to think you're knit picking, was after a while it stopped reading as Avatar and had moments where it read a little like Disney's Pocahontas. Roll your eyes that's fine, because I will absolutely be the first one to admit it is knit picking. The idea that a movie has similar themes as another movie isn't anything new to us, and doesn't bother me. I just think it would have been more interesting to see the Tree of Souls depicted as something other than a willow tree. I think it works, I just wonder what else Cameron maybe considered.

As far as Pandora is concerned though, my bags are packed and I'm ready to go as soon as transportation is available. I loved the first hour of the movie, exploring and learning along with Jake about the planet. I understand why it is there and I absolutely agree that it wouldn't be the same story without it, but I could have done without the war over the world and would have been satisfied.

Final thoughts: Watching this movie makes me really excited to know that the world I live in today is capable of creating such impressive images, from a technological stand point. I can't wait to what is yet to come - I'm looking at you Wil Brooks!

OFFICIAL COUNT 21 DOWN 344 TO GO

Independence Day

Independence Day, 1996
Independence Day [Blu-ray]



I think the only reason I haven't seen this movie is because Men in Black, another alien movie with Will Smith, came out the next year. It's kind of funny to me that I've seen Men in Black maybe forty times, and I've never seen Independence Day. I'm sure they're two completely different movies, and the only common threads being aliens and Will Smith. I am actually pretty excited to be watching this movie on Independence day; but I am really bummed out that I wasn't able to make it to the free screening hosted by The Enzian.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

I actually really liked this movie a lot. There were a lot of elements that I didn't expect the movie to have that made for a fun surprise like the cast. The best surprise when it came to the cast was seeing Dr. Malcolm from Jurassic Park! I'm sorry but Jeff Goldblum will just always be his character from Jurassic Park to me. I also really liked the small reunion from Mrs. Doubtfire with Harvey Fierstein and Lisa Jakub.

Perhaps my favorite part of the movie was watching Will Smith fly a military plane through the Grand Canyon while being chased at super high speeds by one of the alien species "attack ship." I don't think that's the name the writer or any creative minds had in mind, but I like it and it works. Although I will admit that I was a little nervous just thinking about how the slightest wrong move could potentially kill Will Smith's character, and/or the alien as well as completely smash into the canyon slightly changing the look of it. Most of my nervous energy was for the face of the canyon. It's hard for me to see imagines of the country in ruins, so watching New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. in their final states was a little upsetting to me. Even though I love watching the mini-series on Discovery, it's hard for me to watch Life After People.

Final thoughts: I liked the movie. I'm just not sure if it was a cheap shot or genius to write about aliens that come to destroy our country on America's Independence Day, when automatically a large percentage of the population remembers just how great it is to be an American.

OFFICIAL COUNT 20 DOWN 345 TO GO

Next up: Avatar

The Departed, and my love/hate realtionship with shoulder pads

The Departed, 2006
The Departed (Widescreen Edition)



I remember when The Departed was released, as well as all of the Oscar buzz around it. I never actively avoided watching the movie. I think because I knew it would be something I would eventually see, and I was okay with not seeing it in theaters. Also worth noting, this is the second Martin Scorsese movie that I've seen. My intorduction to Scorsese was The Aviator, which I loved. Again, this is another movie that I am really excited about watching for the first time. Mostly, because I want to have a better idea why Scorsese has managed to reach a God like status among the film community. There are actually a few Scorsese movies that are on my list include: Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Gangs of New York, so within the year maybe I'll have a better idea. Or maybe I'll even become one of the "them."

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

One of the things that the 365 Movie Challenge is allowing me to do, because the list is made up of such a wide spectrum of movies in terms of: generas, quality, budgets, levels of distribution, and range of talent is that I to watch movies that are on completely different levels. I don't think I would ever see The Departed on the same "watch" list as Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Despite the fact that Bill and Ted wasn't a great movie in same way Dial M For Murder is a great movie I think it still has something to offer.


Only three weeks into the challenge I've started to noticed a few common threads among some of the movies. I feel like the titles that really stick out as being a great movie have really had a lot of time and thought put into them. Something like The Departed, or A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy I feel like the creative minds behind had more invested in their story than something like A Weekend at Bernies. Which even though I liked, I felt it could have quite honestly been thrown together over a weekend in the Hamptons.


More specifically focused on The Departed though, I thought all around it was an amazing movie. It was filled with an amazing cast. There were only two things that really bothered me during the movie, and I will be the first to admit are very minor. I don't want to seem as though I'm knit picking, but I can really only say how amazing the cast was in so many ways.


The first "problem" for me, and I use that term loosely, was the time line or progression of the story. I didn't realize until pretty far into the movie, how much time it actually spans until much later in the movie. I thought we were just a few weeks into the story once Billy managed to get in with Costello, when really the two guys had probably spent a couple of months together. Again, it's by no means anything major. It was just something small that kind of pulled me out of the movie.


I know how minor the second may seem, but I've realized after reading over a couple of older posts that I have really started paying closer attention to the wardrobe and art aspect involved with some of the movies. I'm even willing to admit that it's because I have started sewing and I tend to pay closer attention to these details now. 


While some of Sandy Powell's choices for The Departed I think were brilliant, there were others choices that made me cringe. I'm talking specifically about Matt Damon's shoulder padded suit jacket. It's probably just me, but I don't like shoulder pads. I would even support a movement in fashion to just forget about shoulder pads entirely. 


The only way I am willing to forgive and let go of the shoulder pads is if in some unimaginable way, which I think this is rather far fetched in the way that symbolism seems to be far fetched, Scorsese and Powell realized how shoulderpads in a suit jacket would add to the story. Even though I think this is something that is picked up on a subconscious level, like body language it can add to the story. The fact that Matt Damon's character is continuiously trying to mask himself as a stronger/better cop than he is, all while trying to keep under wraps his connection to Jack Nicholson's character makes for an appropriate use of shoulder pads at that point in the story. So for that reason I understand in filmmaking why we might need to add to a characters shoulders in order to make our characters appear stronger or broader than they actually are.


Final thoughts: I'm really excited to watch all of the other Scorsese movies on my list. After having seen The Departed and The Aviator I am fairly certain that he managed to figure out how to bring everything aspect of film making together in order to make an absolutely amazing movie. With the exception of shoulder pads, which I am fairly certain manage to appear in both The Departed and The Aviator. However, at this point I couldn't tell you if the shoulder pads continue to be intended or a happy accident. Of course at this point, if I were Sandy Powell, I would have to put my feelings for shoulder pads aside. I would even go as far as to pretend every day for the rest of my life it was a fully conscious decision as I gaze adoringly at my Oscars work in costuming.


OFFICIAL COUNT 19 DOWN 346 TO GO


Next up: Independence Day
* I know it was scheduled for next week, but I just got my days all mixed up. I've decided to watch Independence Day this week, and switch it out with The Blind Side.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, 1989
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure



I've really grown to like a lot of the movies from the 80's that I've already seen. I guess they all seem to have a certain charm to them. I'm pretty excited to watch Bill and Ted. I actually was able to plan it out so that I'm able to watch it on the last day of my work week. I know it's a comedy, and it was nice to be able to unwind with a comedy last week when I watched Weekend at Bernie's.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

There are actually a lot of things that I try to take into consideration both before and after watching all of the movies that are a part of the 365 Day Challenge before I do the "write up." I try to account for the technology that was available when the movie was in production, any problems that occurred during production, and what was going on in the world around the same time it was made.

I knew Bill and Ted was going to be a typical teenage movie from the 1980's. I anticipated hearing the words "excellent" and "dude" repeated a lot, a couple of rather clueless teens and a lot of fun time traveling. I got all of these things. I think had I been the right age to see this when it first came out, I would have liked it. It wouldn't have been my favorite, but I wouldn't have regretted renting it on a weekend to watch with a few friends.

Final thoughts: This movie follows suits with a lot of movies from the 80's. It isn't for everyone, but if you watch it expecting something kind of typical from the 80's you won't be disappointed.

OFFICIAL COUNT 18 DOWN 347 TO GO

Next up: The Departed

Rec.

Rec., 2007
[Rec]



I first heard about this movie from two of my friends, Will and Dana. They came over one night after watching the movie and told me all about it, but nothing more than the bare essentials of the plot. The fact that the movie scared both of them, and they've seen plenty of scary movies, makes me a little nervous about this one.

Once I realized this movie was up, I talked to Will about making plans to watch this movie together via text messaging. The game plan was to get together one night this week after 7 PM, and then very possibly over the next 78 minutes I'd become terrified of what I was watching. I felt pretty set in those plans, and my scared/nervous meter at the time was a solid 5 on a scale from 1-10. I'm pretty confident that this might actually be a scary movie. And then he sent me this last text.

"Oh and p.s. Make sure you watch Rec on a night you'll have Mikey around or possibly you'll go insane from fright. ;)"

First of all, those were always my intentions. I planned to have the boyfriend around incase I was too scared to go back to my apartment, where I live alone. And regardless of how the boyfriend felt about it, it was an absolute possibility that I might be staying with him that night. So when I mentioned the game plan to the boyfriend last weekend, he assured me that he would go watch the movie with me. He also assured me that movies don't scare him. And honestly, scary movies don't typically scare me either. This might just be the exception after Will's last text message, which sent my scared/nervous meter to a solid 7.5 on the same scale from 1-10.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

First and foremost I feel like I should just put this out there:

I don't like zombie movies. As in, not even a little bit. I guess it's just that I don't feel like they're very realistic. And despite my facebook quiz results, which I discovered my odds of surviving a zombie apocalypse are surprisingly high, I'm fairly confident that would not be the case. If I were ever in that situation, my knee jerk reaction is just always flight. I would find a way to lock myself in a room, apartment or house and then proceed to hide in the kitchen or bathroom cabinets. Why kitchen cabinets? It just seems obvious to me, and I'm saying this not really knowing a thing about zombies, that zombies don't keep their food in the kitchen. To me, they store their food on the sofa in front of the TV, and I also don't think that bathrooms tend to be in high demand either.

I do have a back up plan in the event that I am discovered by the zombies either in the kitchen or bathroom cabinets. It's a simple plan to fight them off in any way possible until I could find at least one of three people: The Boyfriend, Yeti - a friend from film school, or Zachary - my brother. I'm confident enough that I'd manage to talk them into helping me and maybe I would make it through the night.

Based on this strategy alone and what seems to be a fairly reasonable backup plan, I'm fairly certain the odds are that I'd be killed off about 3/4 of the way through the movie. Of course, I also think I'd have a moment where I would reach my limit and put up a really good fight before I died.

Now that I've shared my zombie apocalypse plan with everyone let's talk about Rec.

The movie is very zombie like, in that unknowingly a flu like symptom or disease spreads in an apartment building, the strain is spread through saliva, and is highly contagious. When the first person begins to experience these zombie symptoms, a call is placed to Spain's version of 911. A fire and rescue crew is dispatched to help. Along with the fire and rescue crew is a young female reporter, Angela, and her camera man, Pablo - who like most camera men wear skate shoes. Pablo and Angela are with the fire and rescue crew filming a story based on one night of a fire and rescue department at nigh, for a show called, While You Were Sleeping.

When the fire and rescue crew arrive Angela and Pablo follow them upstairs to an apartment where an old lady lives. When they attempt to help the woman, she attacks and bites of the police officers. Shortly after the residents in the apartment building realize they are being sealed and trapped inside. It doesn't take long for things to start to happen. At this point the people inside just kind of do as they're told and remain in the main lobby area of the building. They have no real idea what is going on and they've not been told any information about the virus.

However once they discover what happens when someone has been bitten it's a whole new story. And I'm sorry Sir - who is speaking at me, though a bullhorn and advising me on what is best for my safety- from a secure area outside of the immediate danger zone. I'm just not going to listen to you at this point. Instead, I'm going to proceed to wonder off into a safe, uninhabited apartment with my friend who hasn't been bitten, and put my zombie emergency plan into effect. While everyone else is waiting in the lobby I'm fine to hangout and wait for the search and rescue team to find me in the kitchen cabinet.

Final thoughts: Will and Dana were right about this one. The movie is definitely intense. The movie was done really well and I felt like I held my breath during the last ten minutes. I wasn't scared the way I thought it would be, and I was able to make it home by myself last night.

However after briefly talking to Dana after watching the movie I was really excited to learn that there is a sequel. The second movie is based on what the SWAT team finds when they enter the building. So, I guess my waiting it out in the kitchen or bathroom cabinet idea isn't too far fetched after all. I win.

OFFICIAL COUNT 17 DOWN 348 TO GO

Next up: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

"These go to eleven."

fThis is Spinal Tap, 1984
This is Spinal Tap (Special Edition)



This is another movie that I haven't even heard of. It was recommended to me by a friend, who never really said anything to me about the movie. So, I'm going to give it a shot to see what this one is all about.

After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)

OMG a Mockumentary! Where do I sign up?

If you weren't sure what you were in for, the commentary on the menu screen of the DVD clears everything up for you in a matter of seconds. This movie is absolutely hysterical, from the DVD menu until the end credits. This is Spinal Tap is focused around English band members who are totally self-absorbed and completely unaware of their fall from Rock Star status as they begin to tour in America. Honestly, I feel like the members of the band who make up Spinal Tap today just are Russell Brand's Aldous Snow.

Here's the thing I've realized about Comedies: The funnier they tend to be the more people are excited to share their experience with you. Your friends will even go on to say, "Oh and this one last thing..." then proceed to promise not to give too much away. But as soon as they make the promise, you should know it's as good as broken. This was exactly the case for Forgetting Sara Marshall for me. I managed to get deathly sick, thank you - food poisoning, and didn't make it to the theater with all of my friends on opening night. But in a "good" way that was alright, as all of my friends were more than willing to re-live and re-enact all of the funny parts of the movie immediately after seeing the movie. By the time I saw the movie, I had already heard all of the jokes and it took away from the experience.

It's actually really hard to not to share all of my favorite moments from the movie with everyone, because I don't want to take away from the movie. I do want to share one of my favorite clips from the movie though. I don't think it gives away too much, and I think it's a fair representation of what This is Spinal Tap is like as a whole.




Final thoughts: I think anyone who likes The Office needs to see This is Spinal Tap. Another show that I would strongly recommend for those who like this particular type of humor is Summer Heights High. As far as I know HBO only picked up the Australian show for one season, and it wasn't well advertised. I actually stumbled upon by accident early one Saturday morning.

OFFICIAL COUNT 16 DOWN 349 TO GO

Next up: Rec.