Friday's Five Favorites

It's the weekend. The weather is going to BEAUTIFUL tomorrow. And this is a good thing because I am throwing a nice big party. I've been busy, busy, busy all week with cleaning, cleaning, cleaning and lots of running around. I just finished cleaning the bathroom for my guests. Do you think it's a bad thing to make my kids hold it until tomorrow night? Okay, I'm kidding, but seriously....little boy's and going to the bathroom with bad aim just means I'm going to be cleaning again tomorrow, doesn't it?

So, the food is ordered and the bar is stocked. In honor of the party, this week's Five Faves are....movies with great party scenes!!

Okay...let's Party On!!!

Five:
REVENGE OF THE NERDS-
This movie has a few party scenes, but two stands out. One is when the Tri Lambdas decide to throw a kick ass party, but...they are nerds. They invite the nerdiest Sorority, Omega Mu's and everything starts off awkward. It's a room with a bunch of wallflowers. Of course things kick in and the Nerds indeed throw a kick ass party. The other party scene in when they are at the fair and they have to perform before the crowd. Yeah....you know that song....no?
"Clap your hands everybody and everybody clap your hands. We're Lambda Lambda Lambda and...Omega Mu. And we come up here on stage tonight to do a show for you...."
No? Anyone? Just me?

Four:
CAN'T HARDLY WAIT-
This is a great movie about that last night of high school. All different kinds of characters gather at a house party and we get to see them and laugh at them as they interact with one another. From the Jocks to the Stoners to the Geeks to the Wanna Bes. The best are Seth Green who is a poser and Ethan Embry who has finally worked up is courage to tell the girl of his dreams how he loves her. So many people are in this movie. Watch this one just to see how many you recognize.

Three:
WEIRD SCIENCE-
Classic 80's movie where two geeks create their own beautiful, supermodel of a woman. The twist is she has super powers and can grant wishes to them and herself. When she insist that they throw a party so they can mingle and impress girls, everything goes haywire from her turning the kitchen blue, freezing the grandparents, and bringing in the craziest motorcycle gang. A young Robert Downey Jr. plays one of the bullies and Bill Paxton will forever be remembered as big brother Chet.

Two:
DAZED AND CONFUSED-
Another end of the school year party with a lot of famous faces that you might recognized. It's 1976 and the party is just groovy. Great soundtrack, great lines, and just all around a great movie.

One:
MAMMA MIA-
Just for that final scene where they are all dancing and the water bursts but they keep on partying. It's ABBA, you can't go wrong. It's a feel good movie that will have you wanting to party after seeing it and just dance the night away.

Thursday's 3 Line Review

Earthquake-
This movie was so bad, it was good. Were we really supposed to believe that Ava Gardner was Lorne Green's daughter? DH and I had quite a few laughs watching this one.

You Don't Know Jack-
Made for HBO story of Dr. Death-Dr. Jack Kevorkian. It was interesting and played out both sides of mercy killings very well. Al Pacino was unrecognizable as Dr. Kevorkian and should be up for a Golden Globe.

DragonHeart-
Dennis Quaid as a medieval dragon slayer and Sean Connery as the voice of the last dragon alive. You can't go wrong. This movie is fun and entertaining and anything with Dennis Quaid in it wins big with me.

Away We Go-
Two soon to be parents travel the country, looking for a place to call home and raise their daughter. I really, really wanted to like this movie but in the end found it to be a bit dull. The scene with the anti-stroller, family bed only, crunch hippie mom (played wonderfully by Maggie Gyllenhaal) was great though.

Terminator Salvation-
Like Dennis Quaid, I also have a thing for movies with Christian Bale in it. This is the sequel (or is it prequel?) for the Terminator franchise where we are introduced to the war against machines with John Connor leading it and trying to find Kyle Reese. Best part is Ah-nold's appearance.

Mighty Ducks-
An all time kiddie favorite with Emilio Estevez coaching a bunch of misfit kids on a hockey team. Think Bad News Bears on ice. Very light, predictable, and enjoyable.

Father of the Bride-
I named this one my favorite wedding movie of all times last week. To my surprise it was on over the weekend and I enjoyed it yet once again. "Welcome to the nineties, Mr. Banks!"

The Lovely Bones-
For fans of the book, this movie can be considered a disaster. Take the book out of the equation and you have a half way decent story with some beautiful filming of the after life. Saoirse Ronan is a brilliant little actress as the haunting, murdered teen who watches over her family and friends and I predict big things for her.

An Education-
Nominated for Best Picture, it deserved the nomination. The story of a young, British schoolgirl who has the world waiting for her, falls for a much, much older, charming, con artist of a man. This movie is very simple, but brilliantly played out.

Sequels, Prequels, and Remakes

I believe I come from the age of sequels. I was a young child when Star Wars came out. It did so well and became such a favorite that they followed it up with Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi...well, you get the idea.

Suddenly, everyone was doing sequels. We have been bombarded with sequels ever since. From Freddie to Jason to Indiana to Jaws to Superman and so on and so on and so on. There were a couple of good sequels and so many bad sequels.

When they running out of ideas or the original actors just didn't want to do it anymore, they began the prequels. Then spin-offs. Then remakes. I'm pretty sure somewhere out there, there is a sequel to a prequel of a spin-off that was a remake! It just got out of control. People say there are just no original ideas out there anymore. I beg to differ. I think that Hollywood just does not want to risk investments because let's face it...sequels, prequels, and remakes mean good money.

Some sequels need to be there. You started it, now we have to finish the story and then let it be. Harry Potter is a good example. Hopefully, JK Rowling has some clause in her contract that states that when Harry Potter's story is told and finished, LET IT REST. We don't need to know about the Weasley Family and their adventures. We don't need to see Harry's parents fall in love, marry, have Harry, and fight the evil Voldemort. And we sure as heck don't need to see some Brokeback Mountain style story with Dumbledore.

Twilight is another example. Sure, I know...I know...the movies aren't really that good, BUT they have us committed. The story is not finished. They can finish it...and LET IT REST. I don't need any stories about Edward's early years because you know they are going to have to recast Robert Pattinson. He's just not looking 17 anymore as it is. Recasting ruins everything for me. And I don't need to flash forward and see how Jacob turns out.

So, this brings me to Star Trek. I was not a Star Trek fan. Not anything specific against the franchise. It's just that I became so dedicated to Star Wars at an early age that I felt that becoming involved with Star Trek would just be like cheating on Star Wars.

I saw one Star Trek movie in the theaters. My uncle had taken my cousin and I to see Wrath of Kahn. The only thing I remember about that movie was that the little guy from Fantasy Island was NOT in it and I had sat in a wad of gum and left with Hubba Bubba all over the seat of my knock off Sergio Valente jeans.

I was all about Star Wars. I was all about Han Solo. I would day dream in school that the Millennium Falcon would come and Han Solo would tell me that I was a long lost Jedi and rightfully belonged in a galaxy far, far away. Of course I would convince Han that Leia was no good for him and we would dump Luke and Leia in some trailer park where they could live happily ever after together (because we all know that was a possibility in Empire and don't tell me they are twins) while Han and I would go off to fight the Dark Side.

I am still about Star Wars. I have skeletons in my closet. Okay, they are actually Star Wars figures and twelve inch dolls in my closet. I'm a thirty something year old woman with boxes of mint condition Star Wars toys in her closet. In my living room there is a Darth Vader Snow Globe and Boba Fett figures and a Han Solo Bust. Oh, and a small replica of the Millennium Falcon.

There just was no room for Star Trek in my Star Wars obsessed mind and heart. And then the prequels were announced and I was so excited. It was a lesson learned. Prequels will disappoint you. Sure, it was nice to see Yoda again and to visit Tatooine. We anticipated the birth of Darth Vader. And Samuel L. Jackson was kinda cool as the Jedi with the purple saber. But it was prequels and they just didn't live up to the original Holy Trinity of Star Wars movies.

When I heard they were going to do a new Star Trek movie, I rolled my eyes. How original. Not that I cared. I mean, I didn't like Star Trek. Besides, wasn't Shatner and Nimoy getting too old for this? At least George Lucas didn't force Ford, Hamill, and Fisher to return.

Then I heard that they were recasting Kirk and Spock and the crew with a younger, hipper cast. Again my eyes rolled. So they are remaking it? Not that I cared, but isn't that an insult to the original cast?

Then I heard it was a prequel. It would be about the early years of the Enterprise. Ah....well...again...great big eye roll. Been there. Done that. And it didn't really quite work.

But, as a Movie Junkie, I was curious and I put it on my Netflix queue. It arrived in the mail the other day. And I watched it. Twice.

It worked. It's very odd, but it is a prequel since it tells the story of how the crew of Enterprise came together. It's kind of also a sequel since Nimoy does reprise his role as the older Spock who comes from a time warp. And since it involves a time warp and the Star Trek history was changed...it's also a remake then. Everything every Trekkie has ever known can now be thrown out the window because, thanks to time travel, an alternate reality has been set. BRILLIANT!!

Bravo! They pulled it off! The movie is funny and action packed. They kept things familiar and didn't change much. The uniforms are the same. The ship is pretty much the same. I think that is where George Lucas went wrong with the Star Wars prequels. He changed so much that it just wasn't familiar to us fans. Gone were the X-Wings and Tie-Fighters. So many new species were introduced (Jar Jar Binks and Watto, anyone?) when he should have stuck to Wookies, Ewoks, and the Mos Eisley Band. Even the wardrobe was different. Princess Leia had minimal costume changes whereas Padme Amidala broke records.

With Star Trek, everything is still recognizable. It makes the fans feel at home again. The casting was pretty good too. Especially Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto (who is the perfect younger Spock), and Simon Pegg. Eric Bana is unrecognizable as the villian Captain Nero.

This prequel/sequel/remake is what I believe to be a perfect example of a movie that is NOT based on an original idea. It stayed familiar, which makes the Trekkies happy. It has a young cast, which can help creat a new generation of Trekkies. And by using the time warp storyline, it creates a whole new history that us non-Trekkies can follow and enjoy. And it's funny in that one-line, cocky way that Han Solo was and has action and a very surprising touch of romance. It was good. It was really good. It made me feel like the six year old who first discovered Star Wars and what was great about it. I watched it twice. I want to buy it and own it.

So, with shame, I am now somewhat of a Star Trek fan. They are making a sequel for this prequel and I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited about it. I'm not saying that I'm going to start buying Star Trek memorabilia. If given the choice, I would rather pilot the Millennium Falcon over the Enterprise. I still believe if they were in a showdown, Han would kick Kirk's ass and Jedis will rule over Vulcans. And there is no villain like Boba Fett. But, I will now welcome the viewings of Star Trek movies in my home. And I will not feel like I'm cheating on Star Wars. And I will enjoy Star Trek.

Friday's Five Favorites

In honor of nine years with my DH, today's Friday's Five Fav's are movies that have something to do with weddings. Either the whole movie is focused around the wedding or there's a great wedding scene or the movie leads up to a wedding.

Number 5-
MURIEL'S WEDDING-
All Muriel wants to do is get married. She just wants to be a bride, but she doesn't even have a boyfriend. This Australian movie is so funny and quirky with it's off the wall characters. And the ABBA soundtrack makes it even better. Toni Collette is great in this movie as the awkward Muriel, but Toni Collette is great in everything she does.

Number 4-
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING-
I can so relate to this movie. Though we are not Greek, my mother's side is Italian and I know my fourth cousins ten times removed or something like that. My father is German/Irish and comes from a family of ten. My DH...very small family. His family was smart that way. This movie had a lot of laughs for me. And besides, John Corbett was just adorable in this movie. I also can never look at another Bundt Cake again without thinking of this movie.

Number 3-
WEDDING CRASHERS-
Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson as two overgrown frat boys and meet women by crashing weddings. Christopher Walken is great as the father of the bride where the boys get sucked into spending the weekend with the family, but Bradley Cooper steals the show as the suspicious, snotty, and snobby boyfriend of Wilson's love interest. Isla Fisher is also a hoot and Will Ferrell is outrageous. This is a wedding movie that guys can enjoy too!

Number 2-
THE WEDDING SINGER-
If you haven't seen The Wedding Singer, you've been living under a rock. It's Adam Sandler. It's cornball weddings and wedding songs. It's the 80's. It's a classic. And the song Grow Old With You should be an instant wedding song classic.

Number 1-
FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1991)-
This has to be my favorite. It's cute, Steve Martin is funny, anyone planning a wedding can relate. But most of all...it has one of my top quoted lines. There is one line that I have been quoting to my father for years. You see, my Dad is stuck in the late sixties, early seventies. Whenever he is amazed by something or says that something is impossible, I simply quote Martin Short. "Welcome to the 90's, Mr. Banks." Even today, in the new millennium, I still quote that line. This is also one of those movies that no matter how many times I have seen it, if I'm flipping around and it's on, I will watch it again and again. It's funny, charming, warm, and can even make you get that little catch in the back of your throat.

Thursday's 3 Line Reviews and One Heck of a Movie

Now, I know I do the 3 Line Reviews every Thursday and I'm sticking with that because I enjoy. It's a challenge to review a movie in just three lines. However, last night a movie came along that I simply cannot review it in just three lines. It was that good. It would be unjustified to try and be gimmicky with only three lines. So, this movie is getting more.

But...first the Thursday's 3 Line Reviews of all the movies I watched during the past seven days.

THE RIVER WILD-
Suspenseful filmed in the beautiful wilds of Montana and Oregon where Meryl Streep is an ex-river guide/mom who is needed to take two seedy characters down (up?) the rivers. Meryl Streep's weakest role, which is still saying a lot because she is brilliant. Kevin Bacon does bad guy well and John C. Reilly reminds us that there is more to him than campy Will Ferrell partnered movies.

THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS-
Odd ball movie with odd ball characters played out by good cast including Gene Hackman, Ben Stiller, The Wilson Brothers, Angelica Huston, and Danny Glover. Has some very funny moments and some dark moments. Different and weird, but held my interest.

TWISTER-
Classic disaster movie done right. The storyline is a little corny, but the effects and Bill Paxton steal the show. Flying cow goes down in movie history as one of the most memorable scenes ever.

TED BUNDY-
Cheap, tasteless, tacky movie about the real life serial killer. This movie is a disgrace to Ted Bundy's victims and completely disgusted me on how they felt they needed to add "hip" filming and sorority girls in underwear, jumping on the bed, and having a pillow fight. Michael Reilly Burke's portrayal of Ted Bundy was clownish and almost laughable, yet just the thought of the actual events of this serial killer kept me up the whole night.

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE-
Having never seen this "classic", I decided it was time and was some what disappointed. The "disturbing" scenes were just there to shock you and unfortunately in today's day and age, the shock value just isn't there anymore. I did think the story was interesting and the whole movie was different, but did anyone else think the actors were shouting throughout the whole movie?

THE FIFTH ELEMENT-
After putting this movie in last Friday's 5 Favorites for most colorful movie, I saw that it was on and as I said last week...I cannot resist watching this movie. Bruce Willis is great as he deadpans his one liners and Chris Rock is hilarious as the flamboyant DJ from the future. This movie is sci-fi that is fun, colorful, and unique.

JOE SOMEBODY-
Dull and boring. Tim Allen is a man who challenges the work bully to a schoolyard fight and suddenly gains respect and fame at work. The only shining moments are scenes with Jim Belushi as ex-action star turned drunk martial artist Mr. Miyagi wannabe.

GET SMART-
As a fan of the original television show, I really wanted to like this movie. Steve Carell tries and has a moment or two, but mostly comes across as annoying and Anne Hathaway is miscast. The only laugh out loud moments I got all came from Alan Arkin.

A BEAUTIFUL MIND-
One of the better movies I've seen in a long time. Russell Crowe plays mathematical genius John Nash who is recruited by government officials to help crack Russian Codes. This movie has a wonderful twist that is revealed in the middle of the movie, so the second half deals with the twist and I loved that.

MOTHMAN PROPHECIES-
Based on real events, this movie is eerie and creepy. You never see the boogie man, which makes it a little scary. In the end though, the movie is just a tad bit of a let down.

LA VIE EN ROSE-
The story of French singer Edith Piaf who went from being raised in a brothel and the circus to singing on the street corners to international fame. Was very disappointed in this movie as it flashed back and forth and there were flashbacks within flashbacks and it seemed to even flash sideways and inside out. Marion Cotillard was excellent but her make-up made her look like a cross between Mommie Dearest and a circus clown and I don't believe it did the real Edith Piaf any justice.

A HOME AT THE END OF THE WORLD-
A very simple story of a very strange three way relationship between a flamboyant gay man, a bohemian/punk straight woman, and a lost and confused bi-sexual man. I thought this movie was touching and warm and loved Sissy Spacek and Colin Farrell. This was an enjoyable surprise for me.

FOUR CHRISTMASES-
Mindless and mildly humorous. If you have nothing else better to watch, then watch this one. I do love Vince Vaughn but thought Reese Witherspoon was miscast and looked and acted older than she actually is.

And now, for the movie that I felt deserved more than three lines. A movie that went it ended I looked at DH and declared "Brilliant!!!"

I'm slowly working my way through the big Oscar movies. I have seen The Blind Side, Precious, Up, and Inglorious Basterds. Last night it was time to watch District 9. I was simply blown away.

District 9 is a very simple sci-fi plot. Aliens are stranded on Earth for 20 years and put in a slum...a camp in South Africa. They live lower than humans, they act lower than humans, they are treated lower than humans, but are they lower than humans?

Some scenes are shot in documentary style. Others look like news footage. The rest is an action/sci-fi movie and it all comes together in one great, entertaining movie. The CGI effects of the aliens are the best I've ever seen. They looked so real. At least to me. My son, who was up with a horrid case of allergies and watched it with us, declared they were fake looking. But I disagree. And the aliens were not cute or cuddly or innocent looking. They were ugly brutes who acted like ugly brutes.

In the movie, it is decided by some government/big corporation bigwigs that it is time to evict the "Prawns" from their slum housing in District 9 to a new district away from Johannesburg. As the newly promoted official, Wikus Van De Merwe is overly confident in his status and abuses his authority to evict the Prawns, but of course things get out of control.

There was not one big name actor or actress in this movie. This movie relies on the effects, the story, and some unknowns to carry it and it works. Sharlto Copely, who plays Wikus Van De Merwe, was amazing. He went from a weaselly, sniveling, cowardly, awkward, brown nosing, geek to a rugged, dirty, sweaty, action filled man of survival. If I were watching this movie in pieces, I would have never guessed it was the same actor or the same character. He deserved more recognition for his work.

The only flaw this movie has is its over use of the F word. I have no complaints of the violence, the blood, the gore that comes with this movie, but when every line contained one or more F word, it just got a little ridiculous. Then again, I'm not from Johannesburg and I've never been, so maybe this is how they talk over there? Maybe the F word is used like that and not considered the offensive word it is over here? I don't know. I think I'm just trying to find a reason as to why the script contained it so often. I'm talking more than a Quentin Tarantino movie.

But other than that, as I told DH, this movie was brilliant. So far it is my favorite of all of 2010 Oscar Nominations that I have seen. This is the movie that I recommend for this week.

We Met At The Movies

On this day, I married my best friend. That was what our little "theme" was was. There was a sticker on the envelopes that said the whole marrying best friend quote. Our invitation was a little boy giving a little girl a flower. But our real theme was the movies.

DH and I met at the movies. He was the usher. I was the candy girl. The other candy girl was his girlfriend. We'll ignore that part. This was back when popcorn was freshly popped and we had to wear bow ties. Then I left my candy girl position and didn't see him for seven years.

Seven years later, he walked into my store and I knew...this was it. We dated, bonded over our love and appreciation for Star Wars, Jaws, and Indiana Jones. We anticipated the release of Phantom Menace together. We remained loyal to George Lucas despite that darn Jar Jar Binks. We claimed that we were going to name our first born son Quint (though I liked Brody better). It was love.

And then came the wedding. With all the planning and running around, my main concern was picking the right music for the important parts of the party. And it had a theme. The Movies.

Three weeks before the wedding, I called our DJ with our list of songs we had chosen. The bridal party and parents were to introduced to the instrumental theme of Top Gun. We were to be introduced to Star Wars (of course!!! What other song would do?) Our first song was Stand By Me, one of my all time favorites. Our second song, where the DJ asked people to come out on to the dance floor and join us was How Do I Live from Con Air. We were to eat dinner to Disney songs. We were to cut the cake to the theme of Jaws. And our very last song was NOT to be the classic, iconic last wedding song of all wedding songs-Donna Summer's Last Dance-but rather...I've Had the Time of My Life.

The DJ paused, chuckled, then said "You realize all those songs are from movies?"

Yes, Mr. DJ. We met at a movie theater. It was a secret little theme. I was curious to see if anyone else would pick up our pattern of songs and music from movies.

A couple of people did. Some people didn't know that we met at the movies and asked if our song choices were something that meant something to us or just purely coincidental. We smiled and nodded and told them. "We met at the movies."

Even our honeymoon was influenced by the movies. We had no interest in Europe and both are not really lie around on the beach all day people. Neither one of us had ever been to Disney World, so we were off to Orlando like two little kids. As fun at it was seeing Mickey, Minnie, and all those Disney Princesses and Princes and Animals and Tea Pots...it was at Disney Hollywood Studios were we were just amazed.

The Indiana Jones Show! Star Tours! And the Greatest Attraction I think of any theme park...The Great Movie Ride. If you have never been on this ride, it is simply a must. First of all, the ride is approximately 20 minutes long, so this means being off your feet and in air condition, which is a welcome thing in Disney. As you sit in the tram car, you are whisked from scene to scene to scene of different movies. All the characters are right there, in animatronics, from Alien to Casablanca to Indiana Jones. The greatest scene of all is Munchkin Land. Little Munchkins pop out everywhere, singing, in glorious color, looking a bit too real. Then a loud rumble and smoke and the Wicked Witch appears, making her cackling threats. The whole thing is just wonderful.

And now, it is 9 years later. A lot has happened in 9 years. We lost some very precious, close family members which makes it hard to look at our wedding pictures. We gave birth to our two wonderful, amazing kids who makes life more interesting than any movie ever could.

We've moved and remodeled. Got rid of our old, beat up Sentra. Have a truck and mini-van sitting in our driveway. We've seen the other two Star Wars movies and decided that the original three will always be the best. Been through four couches and five dogs (three are still with us today). He's been through many work locations and I wrote two novels. We've been rich and we've been broke. We made it back to Disney with our kids and revisited our happy memories with them and created newer and better ones. We've cried a lot. We've fought and slammed doors. We've laughed even more.

All because, we met at the movies.

Happy Anniversary, Honeybunch!!!

Everybody Mambo!!

Today started off as a miserable day. It was just one of the mornings where you either want to crawl back into bed and tell the world to go to hell or get out of the house and hope the fresh air will clear your head. I chose the latter and it turned into a miserable afternoon involving a long, uphill walk to a kiddie baseball game where it threatened to rain the whole time. And then my son and I had to wait for DH to pick us up. The closest spot to the parking lot was right on the water. It was cold, grey, windy, and an occasional drizzle. We had to wait for over 20 minutes. And there were no bathrooms. And it was cold. And damp. Did I mention it was COLD???

But, things are about to look up. The day WILL get better. My kids are now safe and sound and warm at Nana's house where they will spend the night. I am off to take a hot shower soon, to get rid of the chill that has nestled deep down in my bones and to get ready. We have a party tonight. An Adults Only Party.

The best part? It's right next door to my house. No driving. We can party it up like it's 1999...or like we are 19 years old, then stumble down my neighbors stoop, cross the lawn, and stumble into our house.

The second best part? The theme. I loved themed parties. I am KNOWN for themed parties for my kids and I'm getting a kick out of a themed party for grown ups. The theme is "CUBAN".

I don't know much about the Cuban culture. I know Ricky Ricardo was Cuban. I know there was a big hoopla over a little boy years ago who survived to American shores trying to escape from Cuba. I know of Cuban Sandwiches- they are so delish and awesome with pork, ham, cheese, mustard, pickles all pressed together. I'm pretty sure the Mojito comes from Cuba. And I know of a little movie called The Mambo Kings that has a Cuban theme running throughout the movie.

The Mambo Kings is a really good movie that was released in 1992 and starred Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas (in his first English speaking role) as the Castillo Brothers who leave Cuba to try and make it big in the Latin music world. Armand Assante is the older brother who is the one behind their big musical dreams. Antonio Banderas is pining for an old love back in Cuba.

The music is great. Especially "Beautiful Maria of My Soul", which is somewhat haunting. There are scenes that involve the brothers with the original star from Cuba, Desi Arnaz. These scenes are great and if you are a fan of I Love Lucy, which I am, you will enjoy it. Desi Arnaz is played by his son, Desi Arnaz Jr. When the Castillo Brothers land roles on I Love Lucy, they cut back and forth between Desi Jr., the Castillo Brothers, and the queen of comedy herself- Lucille Ball.

This movie is a great tribute to the 50's, Lucy and Desi, Latin music, and Cuban American families and friends everywhere. This is one of those movies that not everyone has heard of, but worth checking out. Whether you like Latin music or retro costumes and settings, you might enjoy this little movie.

I know, I know....I was inspired to write about a movie that was Cuban based and you are thinking I should have written about Scarface. I'm sure that was one of the most famous Cuban characters of all times. But, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. See...this Movie Junkie has never seen Scarface. Oops. Don't worry. It's on my list of "Classic Movies Every Movie Junkie Should See". I will get to it one day.

I'm off. Gotta start to get ready for a brighter (and warmer!) day! I'm off to drink some Mojitos and eat some Cuban Sandwiches and I'm off to Mambo the night away!!

Friday's 5 Favorites

Last week, I mentioned that Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland was a movie that was art. It's use of colors, camera angles, costumes, and depth made it a visual stunning movie, no matter what the story line was. I have been giving thought to other movies that I felt are just artistically done. Movies that are vivid and colorful, or maybe not much color but the graphics and filming make it works of art.

Today's 5 Favorites are movies that I can watch on mute. They might not have the greatest storyline, might be riddled with plot holes, or the actors might spew some off the wall lines. But these are movies that are rich in color, costumes, are just filmed so well that it becomes ultimate eye candy. These are movies that I love just because of the way I get sucked in by visuals.

I have thought about many animated movies, but I decided to leave them off the list because I believe that animation is a colorful form of art in its own category. So, movies like Fantasia and Finding Nemo, although beautiful, belong in its own world.

Number Five:

THE WIZARD OF OZ-

Let's face it. This is the birth of amazing, colorful art on film. And to really make us appreciate just how visually stunning the world of OZ is, they start us off in black and white. When Dorothy lands in Munchkin Land, it is just so colorful that you feel like an acid trip went oh so right. I was lucky enough to have seen The Wizard of Oz on the big screen and it was even more amazing. This is a movie they should re-release every few years in the theaters so we can all appreciate the founding father of vividness in movies the way it should be appreciated. The grass is greener, the costumes are brighter, the Yellow Brick Road is yellower and of course the Ruby Slippers just sparkle.

Number Four:

ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT-

Three drag queens travel across the Australian Outback in a fantabulous bus. Need I say more? The costumes are simply amazing, outrageous, and fun, fun, fun. And the scene with Adam Pearce's Felicia atop of the bus with this long silver banner flowing out from behind him is just...well, a work of art. This is truly one of my favorite movies, just for the images alone. But watch it for the story and acting too. A great movie all around.

Number Three-

THE FIFTH ELEMENT:

From Bruce Willis' yellow floating taxi cab to Mila Jovovich's flaming orange hair to that odd plastic thingie on Gary Oldman's head, this futuristic sci-fi movie is on an overload of color and it is all gorgeous. Even Chris Rock's blond hair is jumping off the screen at you. And the most colorful character is the blue skinned, blue blooded opera singer. She's so odd, but the color makes her beautiful. This movie is a far cry from the sci-fi movie of all times-STAR WARS-but just for the costumes and make up alone it is worth watching. This is one of those movies that whenever I stumble across it while channel surfing, I just stop and watch it again and again and again.

Number Two:

SIN CITY-

This movie is dark, gritty and mostly in black and white with color placed here and there. What makes this movie a work of art is that it comes off like a comic book in action. It comes to life and jumps off the screen at you and just engulfs you. It is pure genius. When I first saw it, I knew it was going to be a violent and dark film but I was completely blown away with how it was filmed. Many movies have tried to accomplish what Sin City did (Watchmen, Max Payne) and just failed.

Number One:

VELVET GOLDMINE:

This movie is incredible. It is dark and colorful at the same time. The costumes worn by Jonathan Rhys Meyers with his technicolor hair as the androgynous David Bowiesque Brian Slade are brilliant. It is glamorous but outrageous. It has to be where American Idol contestant Adam Lambert gets his inspiration. Loosely based on David Bowie and Iggy Pop, it just can't be anything else but colorful and vivid. Would you expect anything less?

Thursday's Three Line Reviews

GINGER SNAPS-
A low budget movie that uses changing into a werewolf as a metaphor for puberty. Thought it was really good, fun, and dark but the ending dragged on too long and one of the characters got lost in a huge plot hole. Loved the old fashion make-up and absent use of computer generated effects.

MAX PAYNE-
The name says it all: Maximum Pain to watch this movie. Tries so hard to be edgy and comic bookish/video gamish with the editing, angles, FX, and lighting and fails miserably. Mark Wahlberg was dull and Mila Kunis should stick to sitcoms and romantic comedies and never, ever given the role of a tough talking action hero again.

OVER HER DEAD BODY-
Not bad, but not good either. A very predictable romantic comedy that just can't compete with over the top romantic comedies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall or Heartbreak Kid. Paul Rudd and Jason Biggs are funny and probably save the movie.

COME ON, GET HAPPY: THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY STORY-
Behind the scenes at The Partridge Family that focuses mostly on David Cassidy and seen through Danny Bonaduce's eyes. A made for t.v. movie that is corny and has horrible acting. Sorry, but they are no Brady Bunch.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO + JULIET-
Before he was Jack Dawson, dying for his love on Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio was Romeo dying for his love for Juliet and he rocks this role!! One of my favorite movies with vivid, colorful MTVish camera angles and editing, a great soundtrack, and Mercutio as a cross dressing, drug pushing, tough talking gangster and John Leguizamo as a greasy haired, snarling, hot headed Tybalt. If you don't think you like Shakespeare, this is the way to watch it played out, understand it, and love it.

THE GREAT DEBATERS-
With Denzel Washington and Forrest Whitaker in a movie, you really can't go wrong. This movie takes a boring topic (debating teams) and turns it into something interesting, enjoyable, and educational. From the acting to the sets to the costumes this movie was surprisingly good.

LEGEND OF BILLIE JEAN-
A classic cornball, cheesy movie of the 80's. I loved this movie way back then and I still love this movie today. A bunch of teens on the run from the law because of a little mishap over a $608 scooter equals unbelievable, ridiculous, hole ridden plotted, unrealistic movie that has become a cult classic over the years.

PLANET OF THE APES(2001)-
Most fans of the original consider this movie blasphemy, but I happen to like this one. Tim Burton's artistic eye, the sets, and make up and costume make a fun movie. Tim Roth is the best in this movie as the evil, demented Thade.

BENNY AND JOON-
Never really saw the big deal with this movie with it's so-so story line that seems a little boring. The cast is great, especially Johnny Depp as the weird but sweet Buster Keaton wannabe. It's a role like this that reminds us that Johnny Depp can do great acting without crazy make-up, hair, costumes, or Tim Burton.

I KNOW WHO KILLED ME-
This movie was killed by the critics and was pretty much the end of Lindsay Lohan's career, HOWEVER...I happen to be one of the very, very few who like this movie. It's so low-budget and the plot is really off the wall, but with the filming with use of symbolic colors and early 70's b-movie effects and editing I find this movie entertaining. I predict this movie will gain a cult following over the years.

MULHOLLAND DRIVE-
I've been wanting to see this movie for years and finally got a chance to see it the other day and now I'm just very confused. This movie held my interest, had so many twist and turns and I really enjoyed watching it. I just don't seem to "get" the point of David Lynch's twisted and amazingly BIZARRE ending.

DANCER, TEXAS POP. 81-
Not so well known actors in a low budget movie with a very simple storyline about four high school grads who had a solemn vow to leave Smalltown, USA for Big City, USA. This movie was touching, charming, witty, and very very enjoyable even though it was a little sleepy. Of all the movies I watched this week, this one was a pleasant surprise that I enjoyed the most.

R.I.P. Rosie Rainbow

This morning, DH discovered that my daughter's fish has went on to that great big swimming pond in the sky. Rosie Rainbow, who was with us for almost a year, was stuck lifelessly to the bottom of the filter. We have not told our daughter yet, but I think she knows. She had an odd, sad look on her face. We tried to claim that little Rosie Rainbow was just sleeping or resting, but my little girl is no fool. She knows. She's just waiting for us to confirm it. We just could not send her off to school upset.

Not that she should get upset with a fish. It's quite replaceable. It's not a dog or a cat. Can you tell I'm not really a fish fan? I have two fish in a large tank in my living room that I'm just WAITING FOR THEM TO DIE so I can move the tank out of that room. Those two fish (named Wizard and Tin Man...guess the movie!) have been taking up space in my newly refurnished living room for over about 6 years now! And they just won't DIE!!

Rosie Rainbow, on the other hand, was my daughter's first pet. True, we have dogs, cat, turtles, fish...but Rosie Rainbow was all HERS. She went to the fish store to pick her out with DH, while I stayed behind avoiding that store at all cost because I have an irrational fear of Fish/Aquarium stores. I think it goes back to when my own pet fish chose to jump out of his bowl when I was about eight years old. I didn't know he had jumped out. I was bare foot. While looking for the little sucker, I stepped back and SQUISH. I shudder at that memory.

I thought of quickly flushing Rosie Rainbow to her sewery grave. Oh, who am I kidding? I thought of telling DH to flush Rosie Rainbow to her sewery grave, but then I remembered that scene from Poltergeist. The one where little Carol Ann's dead pet bird, Tweety, is being hovered over the toilet. Mom is trying to avoid telling Carol Ann that her beloved Tweety is gone but gets caught by Carol Ann. That is the first very disturbing scene in a movie that has scared the crap out of me for years!!! (But I still watch it every Halloween season!).

Just the thought of flushing a dead bird down the toilet. Is that even POSSIBLE?? I'm curious to know...has anyone ever flushed a dead bird? Doesn't it clog the toilet? Make a mess? Flooding and yellow feathers everywhere on the bathroom floor? I don't exactly understand the mechanisms of how a toilet works and really, who does or cares except for plumbers and my father. But does a toilet have enough power and strength to whisk the carcass of a canary through the pipes and out to the ocean or where ever it is that our "stuff" goes?

And since Carol Ann caught mom, I didn't want my daughter to catch DH going behind her back and traumatize her. I mean, look at all the crazy stuff that starting happening after Carol Ann discovered her mom trying to flush her bird. I do NOT need to see my daughter going for a ride on the seat of her pants across the kitchen floor!!!

Do we bury a pet? We had already buried one pet last August. Our old cat, Weazel, had gone to take a cat-nap and he never woke up. We discovered him around 9:30 at night. I had him before I had DH. I called my Dad crying and asking just what do you do with a dead cat at 9:30 at night? He actually had the nerve to tell me that we should just wrap him in a Hefty bag and put him to the curb with our other garbage. I think dear old dad was just getting back at me for all the times I said I was going to do that to him when he expires. After crying some more, my dad came back to his senses and suggest to bury him in our yard. He was even helpful enough to give us the dimensions of how deep and how wide Weazel grave should be. Even a pet's death is technical to Dad.

I specifically told DH I wanted Weazel on the side of our house. There is no room to ever have to build something there. Again, remember Poltergeist? They bury Tweety in the yard and a couple of weeks later they start to put in a pool and poor Tweety's grave is disturbed and desecrated by bulldozers! I did not want to chance that with my Weazel. We have no space for a inground pool in our yard, but I can dream.

It took hours for DH to dig a grave. We did not know that our yard sits on top of some sort of bedrock. He tried all over to get a hole deep enough so our dogs would not smell him and try to dig him up. It was nearing midnight and DH was out there, in the hot August night, sweating and covered with dirt with a shovel and a pick and our yard lights BLARING for all the neighbors to see.

He looked like a scene out of a horror movie. The most famous horror movie involving a dead pet. A dead cat to be exact. Stephen King's Pet Sematary. A great story of a magical Pet Sematary where people would bury their pets so that they would come back to life. Only they never came back quite "right". This movie also introduced the creepiest toddler ever!

After DH laid Weazel to rest, I must have asked him a hundred times "Are you sure he's dead?" I just did not want to see him sitting on my back steps in the morning after clawing his way out. No way. No how. I loved that cat, but Stephen King had scarred me for life when it comes to burying your pets so close to home.

And now Rosie Rainbow. She is still attached to the filter. I suppose we will let our daughter make her final decision. It's only right. She was the one that picked her out from a wall of bored fish in bowls. She was the one that named her the most creative name I ever heard of for a fish. She can decide if Rosie Rainbow should be flushed or buried in our own Pet Sematary. Ooooh, there's a creepy idea for a movie! A buried FISH that comes back from the dead! All you remakers of movies, take note! What a scene that would be!!!

Rest in peace, Rosie Rainbow. You were a pretty little fish. Red with purple and blue on your feathery, frilly, fins. You were a Betta Fish. A Siamese Fighting Fish. Or, as this Movie Junkie always called you a Rumble Fish.

In honor of Rosie Rainbow's passing, I am recommending the movie Rumble Fish starring a very young Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, and Mickey Rourke pre-boxing/botox/plastic surgery days. Those of us who are S.E. Hinton fans remember the story of Rumble Fish fondly and can't look at a Betta Fish/Siamese Fighting Fish without calling them the most perfect name for them. Rumble Fish.

Wave of Terror

It's the end of the world as we know it. Or so says the Mayan Calendar. According to kooks who believe that since the Mayan Calendar ends on December 12th, 2012, the world will end as well. According to Hollywood producers, this is nothing more than a chance to make a big, huge, action-packed, computer generated, unbelievable movie. According to me....well, the key word is unbelievable.

2012 is a movie that is so bad...it's good. It's a never ending chase scene that begins with our hero (John Cusack??!!??) racing against an earthquake in a limo, continuing the race in a small, tiny plane, racing against a volcanic blast in a camper, racing against toxic ash clouds in more planes, racing against a tsunami...racing, racing, racing, racing....are you tired yet? It just didn't seem to end! I always pictured the world going out with a big bang. If it means earthquakes, then shiftings of the earth's plate, then volcanic eruptions, followed by the ash clouds, then waiting for the tsunamis to arrive...please understand if I just put myself out of my misery half way through all that waiting and racing.

The one thing that had me at the edge of my seat was the tsunami scenes. Not because it was done so well or you felt for the actors. All tsunami scenes have me sweating. Tsunamis is one of my top three irrational fears (the other two being snakes and the fish tank aisle at Petland Discount. Don't ask.)

I don't remember when it began. Most likely in my late teens. I began to have recurring nightmares of tidal waves. Of the big one. It is now at the point where I cannot dream of being anywhere near water without it turning into this horrible, drowning nightmare. Because I tend to spend many vacations and trips right next to the water, these dreams come often. The water is a big part of my life.

The dreams always start the same. Maybe I'm in Montauk. Maybe I'm at a cabin we frequent near Orient Point. Where ever it is, I'm next to a body of water and I begin to panic because I notice the waves are getting more frequent and more rough. I try to warn people, but no one is listening. Everyone thinks I'm crazy (which isn't far from the truth, actually). Sometimes, the area begins to flood, the water choppy. And then...it happens...the water begins to recede, and recede, and recede until there is nothing but miles of wet sand ending with a towering wall of water rushing back at us. And there is no where to run.

It's awful. The dreams are so awful that I don't like to be on the beach at night. Can't see if the water is pulling back in the dark. It's so bad that one time DH and I spent the night in a hotel, right on the beach and I had to sleep in the bed furthest away from the water. You know...just in case.

The scariest big wave movie I ever saw? The Patriot with Mel Gibson. I know you are scratching your heads and thinking "There are no tidal waves in The Patriot" and you are right. But, I saw The Patriot up in the mountains at an old Drive-In Theater. A large lot shared about four movie screens. We had Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger in front of us. At one point during the movie, I happen to glance in my side mirror. My heart went in my throat as I saw this wave coming at us. And of course, the little print on the mirror reminded me that objects are closer than they seem.

I calmly reminded myself that there was no way a wave was coming in the middle of the New York Mountain range. George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg appeared in the mirror to remind me that the wave I was seeing was nothing more than the movie playing behind us. A Perfect Storm.

I had seen A Perfect Storm about a week before, in a normal movie theater. I had wanted to run up the aisle screaming when that big, dark wave came. I had seen Deep Impact in the comforts of my own home and had to bury my head under blankets when the waves crush the cities.

And The Poseidon Adventure and the remake Poseidon? Well, there's a reason why I don't do cruises. AT ALL!

And now I can add 2012 to my list of movies that, even though it's corny and awful with John Cusack (really? John Cusack???) running and racing for two and a half hours, that FREAK ME OUT when the waves comes. I can take horror. I can take blood and gore. I can take violence. Just keep the waves the heck away from me!!

I'm not saying I'm afraid of the water. I love the water. The ocean, the lake, the bay, all beautiful things. I can get on a boat (not a cruise ship..but a normal boat). I'm just prepared. If the water begins to recede, I'm outta there so fast and looking for the tallest tree to climb on the biggest hill. And I'm taking a dog with me. Any dog. Doesn't even have to be mine. Everyone knows that the one with the dog always survives these disaster movies, so I'm taking a dog with me.

I mean, really....this doesn't freak you out:

While I'm on the topic of tsunamis in movies, a great made for HBO movie was made back in 2006 called Tsunami: The Aftermath. This is a movie based on the real tragedy that happened years ago where hundreds of thousands of lives were lost. I had to force myself to watch the movie because it was real. It was not about the campy actors, corny lines, and showcasing FX. It was an emotional movie that drained me, but the acting was beyond amazing. Tim Roth and Toni Collette were brilliant, but Chiwetel Ejiofor and Sophie Okonedo's portrayal of parents searching for their little girl were heart breaking, touching, and just simply some of the best acting I had ever seen. Coincidentally, Chiwetel Ejiofor is in 2012 and I can't help but wonder why he chose this movie alongside with John Cusack. (Really? John Cusack in an action flick???)

Friday's Five Favorites

Yesterday, we took the kids to the Long Island Game Farm. It was great, mainly because we pretty much had the entire zoo to ourselves. We walked among the deer, cooed at baby lambs that were only hours old, and tried to get a cockatoo to dance to our singing. We are not the Von Trapp family (more like the Von Crapp Family), so we only resulted in the bird screaming at us.

In honor of our beautiful day out, I've dedicated today's post to my top five favorite movies that involve animals. I'm calling it Friday's Five Favorites and I hope it will be the first of Friday traditions.

Please, feel free to leave your favorites in the comment sections!!! Okay, here we go:

Number 5:
MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1949)

I have not seen this movie in years, but I have so many found memories of watching it every Thanksgiving afternoon, just after the Macy's parade, when I was a kid. The classic claymation style FX just went hand in hand with being dressed up in a frilly dress, drinking Pineapple Juice leftover from Mom making Sweet Potatoes, and the smells of that turkey roasting in the oven.

Number 4:
CHARLOTTE'S WEB

I enjoy both the animated and the more recent version starring Dakota Fanning. I loved the book as a child and I love how my daughter recently discovered it. The animated version holds the same memories for me as The Wizard of Oz. Back in the days before VCR's, when Charlotte's Web was going to be on television, it was a big deal. A big event. It meant throwing down pillows and blankets on the floor and making Jiffy Pop. It was a family night.

Number 3:
RATATOUILLE

Rats in the kitchen? Only Disney can make that adorable and fun. This colorful movie combines two of my passions...cooking and storytelling. The only flaw with this movie is that it is not available in Smell-O-Vision. Ah, to smell the scents that little Remy was cooking up.

Number 2:
HOMEWARD BOUND

I have a serious love/hate relationship with this movie. I love this movie. Two dogs and a cat travel the wild to make it back home to their family. I hate how this movie turns on the waterworks every...single...darn...time. I can't even THINK about this movie without getting all welled up. Oh, geeze! Here I go! Sniff, sniff... But I still love this movie.

Number 1:

THE LION KING

If you have not seen this movie yet, run, don't walk to rent it!! This is Disney at it's finest. Loosely based on Hamlet with Tribal African influenced music and amazing animation, this movie is a masterpiece. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll fall in love with Simba, Pumbaa, and Timon. And if you are anything like my son, you will become obsessed and drag your family into the obsession.

Thursday's 3 Line Reviews

STAND BY ME-
A classic movie about coming of age at its best. All four kids are superb and carry this movie from beginning to end. Kiefer Sutherland's portrayal of a bully puts Ace Merrill down in movie history as one of the best villains ever.

HIDALGO-
Beautifully filmed, making the barren desert look gorgeous. Interesting story where West meets Mid-East. A very different and enjoyable type of Western.

AMISH GRACE-
A Lifetime movie based on the horrible events that happened at the Amish schoolhouse in which several young girls where shot and killed. It's sappy and too soon. Don't know why I gave in to watching it.

W.-
A great cast with the exception of Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice who kept making a face that was a cross between an old spinster and a horse who smelled a fart. More about the relationship between George the elder and George the younger. As with all political views, this movie should be watched with a skeptical eye and just be enjoyed as entertainment over fact.

BEACHES-
Another one of my favorites with a fantastic soundtrack. Bette Midler at her best as she makes you laugh and cry. A great chick flick about the power of friendship.

BETRAYED-
A suspense movie where secret agent Debra Winger falls for radical, racist hick Tom Berenger. Though it holds your interest, it is unbelievable and filled with plot-holes. Debra Winger's character gives strong women in tough roles a bad name.

COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER-
The true story of Loretta Lynn and how she went from child bride of a poor mining town to national country western superstar. A classic with Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones. Enjoyed seeing this movie again for the first time since I was a kid.

GODSPELL-
If Janis Joplin and Bozo the Clown had love children, they would be the stars of this movie. A bunch of hippie clowns roam the empty streets of NYC and preach, dance, sing and reenact scenes from the Gospel of Saint Matthew. I like bizarre, but this crosses into too weird to enjoy.

FAMILY SINS-
Another Lifetime movie about the perfect family on the outside, criminals and abusers on the inside. Corny, but watchable if there is absolutely nothing else on. Kristie Alley does cold, creepy, and psychotic well.

PARTY MONSTER-
The story of James St. James, Michael Alig, and the original Club Kids of the 80's. Outrageous costumes and scenes make an outrageous movie, so it is successful in getting it's fabulous and flamboyant point across. Seth Green is great as the ridiculous, overly creative, ultimate party goer James St. James and Macaulay Culkin makes you forget about his Home Alone days as the murderous Michael Alig.

Water is Thicker Than Blood

I have that one special friend. That BFF that I am very blessed to have in my life. We talk almost everyday through emails, Facebook, and texting. We try and get together at least every other month. Our mothers were best friends. Our daughters and sons are becoming close friends. It's a beautiful thing. It crosses the friendship line and into the family line.

The other day, she emailed me. She wanted to know what I thought of the whole Sandra Bullock and the Asshole Who Will Not Be Named situation. It was a typical celebrity gossip conversation for us that went back and forth between our emails. It ended with both of us agreeing that her Asshole Who Will Not Be Named is just that. And that we both really needed to see Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side.

Late that night, I rented The Blind Side. I had heard so much about it and I wanted to see what the big deal was. Sandra Bullock was very likable as Leigh Anne Tuohy, a somewhat prissy Southern Belle who was tough as nails, stuck to her guns, and very outspoken for what she believed in. She is the head of an upperclass household who notices that one of her children's schoolmates has nowhere to go. After taking him into her home for a night (which quickly turns into a week, a month, a year) and learns that he also has no one to love him but a whole lot of love to give. Despite his background and skin color, Michael Oher becomes a member of their family. He becomes their son and their brother. Not many people got that, but it didn't matter because the Tuohy/Oher Family did.

I got it. I understood it. It's families like this one that prove that blood is NOT thicker than water. Adoption and family members that have no biological connection is something so near and dear to my heart. I understand it. I know it. I live it.

My mother always used to say that if a child is meant to be yours, it will be. It doesn't matter how or where. You don't have to give birth for a child to be yours. Your child can be gifted to you in so many ways at so many times. It could be a new-born baby through adoption. It could be an older child, maybe a niece or nephew or a cousin who is suddenly in your home. It can be the friend of your teen who is lacking parental guidance and just clicks with you. It can even be that daughter or son in law who develops a special parent/child bond. I have been very blessed in one of these situations. One of my greatest gifts of family came through one of the above.

It doesn't have to be a child/parent thing either that makes a family. It can even be that special friend that becomes more of a sister to you than any family member. It's not blood that makes a family, but the bond, the understanding, the respect, and the memories. It's the knowing that if something ever happened to that person, you would be so lost in the world without them. I have also been blessed with that friend/family member.

The Blind Side is a true story of a true family. Michael Oher went on to become a NFL football player. If you google him, you will see pictures of him with his family. He towers over them. He's darker than them. He doesn't seem to fit, yet he is the perfect piece to their puzzle. He makes them complete. And seeing their proud faces, you can see that they are complete.

I loved how The Blind Side doesn't get to distracted with race and dramatics. It touches it, but then lets it go. It is more about the mother/son relationship between Leigh Anne Tuohy and Michael Oher. That's what made the movie so enjoyable. It was light, heartwarming, and sometimes humorous. Though Sandra Bullock was enjoyable and different from her usual quirky, chick flick role, I'm not sure she should have won the Oscar. I believe Sandra proved that she is very capable of a wonderful performance, just not sure this role beat out all the other nominees.

I was very impress with Quinton Aaron who played Michael Oher. He was a character of few words, but his body language and facial expressions spoke volumes. I also loved little Jae Head who played S.J. Tuohy, Michael's little brother who became his biggest cheerleader and agent for all the colleges that were pulling to enroll Michael.

A great movie about a great family. A mother who wanted nothing more than to make sure her son had a roof over his head, food on his plate, clothes on his back, a warm bed, and good grades.
A son had his mother's back every step of the way. You just didn't mess with his Mama. A true family despite their biological differences.

I'm off to email my BFF, my sister I never had, to see how she liked The Blind Side. We've only talked about 10 times in the past two days, but forgot to discuss The Blind Side.

Best of luck to Sandra Bullock. She really is such an enjoyable actress. Hopefully the Asshole Who Will Not Be Named will just fall off the face of the earth somewhere into a dark, hellish oblivion.

Coming right at you in 3-D!!!

3-D movies seem to be all the rage again. Something old is once again new. Everyone is coming at us, right off the screen from the new Clash of the Titans to Shrek to Woody and Buzz. Even Hannah Montana has crossed over to 3-D land.

On Sunday, over an Easter ham, we discussed this fad of 3-D movies. I had stated my opinion. Having seen Hannah Montana in concert and in 3-D (thanks to my daughter) and having seen Meet The Robinsons in 3-D, I declared that 3-D was just not a natural way to show a movie. It strained my eyes, causing them to become unfocused, and gave me a headache. I remembered the very first 3-D movie that I had ever seen.

Way back in the day, sometime in the 1980's, my friends and our mothers were crammed into a tiny little Mustang and whisked off to NYC to tour the Museum of Natural History. The only problem was our mothers didn't want to pay for parking and there was no parking space on the streets of NYC available (gee...really?). So, without ever getting out of the tiny little car, we drove back home. To make up for our disappointment, we went to the old RKO Keith theater, the last of the grand old theaters, were handed these flimsy, paper sunglasses with different colored lenses, and were treated to the re-release of House of Wax starring Vincent Price. The glasses didn't stay on right. They bent and insisted on sliding out from behind my ears and down my face. The film was old and I didn't appreciate old movies at that time. Pretty much, I didn't appreciate any movie that didn't have Harrison Ford or Steven Spielberg's name attached to it in some way or form. It bored me and the images were blurry, with and without the glasses.

It turned me off to 3-D forever. Well, at least until I went on my honeymoon 15-20 years later. DH and I picked Disney World, since we have never been. The very first attraction we saw was It's Tough To Be A Bug, a 3-D movie inside the Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom. I expected a poor quality film with those God-awful paper glasses that never fit right. Disney proved me wrong. It was a truly amazing experience. It really did feel and look like you were right there in the movie. Disney spoiled me forever with their knack for making 3-D movies everything you dream it should be.

But, I quickly fell off the 3-D bandwagon when the kids came along and wanted to see Hannah Montana and Meet the Robinsons. Sure, they greatly improved on the glasses. Instead of looking like Biff's geeky side-kick in Back to the Future, we now look like we should be doing some Risky Business. But the strain on my eyes continued. It was better than House of Wax, but it still wasn't there yet. It had not arrived.

Today, I gave in and decided to give the 3-D movie experience another chance. Mainly, because my kids are on Spring Break and we just really needed to get out of the house and do something.
We went to see Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Ladies and Gentlemen...3-D has arrived!!!

I'm going to be honest, the plot is weak and the story is off...but isn't the original story of Alice in Wonderland off to begin with? I can't for the life of me figure out how that bizarre story with no real plot ever became so famous to begin with. But, Tim Burton is an artist. He is a visionary genius and if there is any reason to see this movie it is to just appreciate what unfolds before your eyes. And if you can, do it in 3-D.

The colors, the lighting, the FX, the costumes, the make-up, the textures is all amazing. In 3-D, nothing makes you duck or comes out off the screen, but it just...I don't even know how to explain it...it just makes the movie so much more vivid. It reminds me of what my little girl eyes once saw when looking through a Viewfinder with awe and amazement. There's something very childlike and whimsical about the whole film. It is cartoonish, dark yet colorful, and creepy yet fun.

With Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter I came to realize something about him. He's not an actor. He just loves playing dress up and make-believe. He loves these oddball characters and loves to become them. From Jack Sparrow to Willy Wonka to Sweeny Todd to Ichabod Crane to Edward Scissorhands to the Mad Hatter, he is just a man that never gave up his love for playing make-believe. And he does it so well. So well, that he has us all fooled into thinking he's a "real" actor. A "serious" actor. That is probably why he is one of our generation's greatest.

Since I enjoyed Alice in Wonderland's artistry so much in 3-D and walked away without a headache and strained eyes, I am looking forward to seeing another 3-D movie. I still think all this 3-D is a bit overkill and it should be saved for movies that is more about the visuals than the plot and acting, but it is nice to see that it has finally arrived.

Just for the record, It's Tough to Be a Bug is still my favorite 3-D movie of all times. If you are ever in Disney World, be sure not to miss this attraction.

Play Ball!!

This is it. It's that time again. Every year at this time my DH regains his faith. He'll occasionally travel to his house of worship. He'll offer up prayers out loud along with thousands of others. He declares his faith, his devotion, his new-found hope, his excitement with all the other followers. And I sulk.

Yes. It is Baseball season again and we are a Mets household. (Okay, quit the groaning and I don't want to hear about the Yankees.) Every spring I have to listen to how good they are going to be this year. How they traded in some new great players. How the Mets are going to prove me wrong. It's not that I'm rooting for another team. I'm just rooting to get my t.v. back and try very hard to point out to DH that the Mets have been disappointing him year after year. Every Spring his hopes are high, only to be crushed by Fall.

I thought I would like baseball. After all, DH and I had so many things in common. We both loved animals. We both liked fishing. We both did not care for the beach. We worked in a movie theater. We grew up in the same neighborhood and had the same memories of old Mom and Pop Shops that are no longer with us. We knew some of the same people. We are both huge Star Wars geeks...I mean fans. So, when we started dating and Baseball Season rolled around, he tried to recruit me...brainwash me...make me a member of his cult. And for a couple of years, I was.

I should like baseball, because I love baseball movies. The Sandlot, Long Gone, Angels in the Outfield, Rookie of the Year, Field of Dreams...all great baseball movies. One of my favorite movies is a baseball movie. I can watch it over and over again. A League of Their Own.

A League of Their Own takes a part of baseball history that not many people knew about before this movie. It's a wonderful movie about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. I love the history in the WWII era movie. I love the clothes, the settings, the hairstyles. All the actresses from Geena Davis to Madonna bought forth a touching, warm, humorous friendship among America's first female baseball league. I love how they were supposed to kick butt as a baseball player, but still be a lady. I love how Penny Marshall directed this and didn't forget her co-stars from her Laverne and Shirley days. Squiggy is the announcer. The Big Ragoo has a great jitterbugging dance number with Madonna. I love Tom Hanks as the drunk, ex-baseball player/coach who really did not want to coach a bunch of silly ole' girls.

Like any baseball movie (or any sports movie), this movie is about the underdog. It's about them pulling through and persevering. It's about falling in love with the characters and rooting for them and cheering for them in the end. I learned a lot from watching this movie. I learned that the phrase "You throw like a girl" will no longer be an insult if you think of the ladies from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. I learned that if you worked hard and dedicated yourself, you can be anything you want to be. And I learned the number one rule in baseball. "THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!!"

So, yes...thanks to Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Penny Marshall I followed DH into the world of baseball. Into the world of the Mets. Our first date to Shea was also Mike Piazza's first date with Shea Stadium. I had no clue who Mike Piazza was. People were going wild in the stands for this Mike Piazza. DH told me proudly that I was taking part in a historic day in Mets history, thanks to Mike Piazza. The only thing I knew about Mike Piazza was that his big, wide set eyes and thin mustache kept reminding me of a cute catfish. It made it easier for me to remember that he was the catcher. Catfish=catcher...get it? No? Just me? Doesn't matter, because I remembered Mike Piazza was a catcher and impressed my date.

I became a Mets fan because my boyfriend was. I followed the Mets and DH through the trials and tribulations. We were there in the stands, in the rain for like a million innings when the Mets where battling it out with the Braves for another chance to stay in the playoffs as the notorious John Rocker pitched. We took a vacation to Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame. We were there when the Mets won the playoffs to compete against the Yankees in the 2000 World Series. That Halloween, to show my love for the Mets I put on a Mets helmet, a Piazza Jersey, and penciled in a thin mustache and proudly dressed up as...a catfish. When I became pregnant with our first baby, I ran out and bought Mets onesies and jumpers.

But, sadly, my passion for the Mets had died out. They are just not exciting anymore. Maybe I'm too tired to follow them because I'm a Mom now. Maybe I never was a true fan. Maybe I'd rather be watching something else. Maybe I'm a fan of Shea and not a fan of CitiField. Who knows.

While we are on the subject of baseball, movies, and the Mets I want to recommend another great movie. It's not about baseball, but the Mets play a very important part in the plot. It's the only movie where I can think the Mets are part of the plot. The Yankees always get all the glory when it comes to baseball teams in movies.

The movie is Frequency, starring Dennis Quaid and James Caviezel. I love this movie. It's a supernatural thriller where a deceased firefighter father (Quaid) helps his police officer son (Caviezel) try and fix the past. It's a great father/son movie with twist and turns, but it's still touching. And the Miracle Mets are a running theme in the background.

Thinking back and remembering all the games DH and I went to at Shea is stirring up memories. I have to admit, there is nothing like being in crowd at a baseball game. The spirit and faith among the cheering fans is something to be proud of. The smells of hot dogs, spilt beer, and fresh air is good for the soul. I think we are going to have to buy some tickets soon and take the kids and let them discover the love of the game. And if they start whining and crying because the sun is too hot or the Cotton Candy man is too far, I will teach them the number rule of baseball. THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!!!!

Jesus---The Musical!!!

I love musicals. To know me is to know that I LOVE MUSICALS. I have such an obsession with musicals that I've been known to say that I am a gay man trapped inside a woman's body. I have a nice little collection of musicals on DVD. From The Sound of Music to RENT. A whole discussion on musicals and its impact on my life will have to wait for another day. Today's post is about one musical. A musical so appropriate for this Holy Weekend. A musical that I am proud to own. Jesus Christ Superstar.

Yesterday I complained that there were no traditional Easter movies on t.v. That growing up I always watched Jesus of Nazareth during Holy Week. I searched and searched for something on t.v. to share with my children, especially my daughter. This is a big year for her, religiously. In just a few weeks she will be taking part in a very special ceremony from our religion, her First Holy Communion. Because of this, she has shown an increased interest in the origins of Holy Communion, Jesus, and the days of Holy Week.

I do own Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ, but that movie is so graphic and realistic that I did not find that my daughter is ready for that. Then the gay man inside of me remembered my musicals. On my living room shelf where I keep my prized collection of musical DVD's and nestled between CATS and Moulin Rouge was Jesus Christ Superstar.

This movie goes way back for me. I remember seeing it for the first time on t.v. when my parents and I lived in our small Garden Apartment. I had to be under 5 years old. My mother was extremely devoted to her religion and she was also a big fan of movies and musicals. I remember bits and pieces of actually watching the movie, but what I remember most is my mother's passion for the movie. How much she enjoyed it.

I remember the songs the most. Especially King Herod's song. It's a fun and catchy tune, a bit out of place among the rock and roll styled opera where there is a lot of that heavy metal screaming. I think I remember it mostly because as a very little girl, I thought King Herod was my Uncle F. I'm not sure why. I think it was the hair and glasses. I look back now and King Herod looked nothing like my Uncle F. did back in the 70's, but I also swore Carol Burnett was our neighbor back then. I must have had some imagination. Or seriously needed a strong pair of glasses.

The song I Don't Know How To Love Him was a song I heard throughout my childhood. A beautiful, haunting song that Mary Magdalene sings. A song written for the original Mary Magdalene, pre-DaVinci Code controversy. A song about a woman who had been had and used by so many men, and now is forgiven and loved by Jesus. Every time we would hear this song, my mother would gush "Oh, I looooooove this song!!!!" And now, that song is on my iPod, because I, too, love that song.

Jesus Christ Superstar is a great way for children and for adults to learn the story of Holy Week. It's entertaining with its song and dance numbers and interpretations of the Bible and Jesus' final days. The kids got it. They recognized the scene where people were waving palms and singing "Hosanna" as Palm Sunday. They remembered hearing similar lines from the Last Supper at church.

When the movie first started, I had to explain that it is sort of a movie within a movie. It begins with a bunch of people driving out into the deserts of Israel on a bus, hippie style. They unload props and put on make shift costumes and then begin to put on a play about Jesus and his final days.

It is beautifully put together with very few props and no real back ground and settings for the scenes. They used modern items to get some points across. Sinners in the temple are selling postcards, machine guns, and such. Soldiers and guards carry guns. Army tanks chase Judas down as he wrestles with betraying Jesus. You have to use your imagination and interpret the movie as you will.

Judas is very much a main character in this movie. This movie dedicates so much time to his torment of being dedicated to Jesus or betraying him. It shows how he loved Jesus, but was so scared at the same time. This is very much Judas' story as it is Jesus' and it is done so well. I don't think there is any other movie that spends so much time on the psyche of Judas and his relationship with Jesus. If there is, please let me know in the comments section. I would love to see it.

My kids sat through the whole movie, completely mesmerized. I had to narrate along with some parts, explain that there were no fighter jets in the times of Jesus. But they got it. The story was told in a very different and entertaining way.

What I love about this movie is that it does not try to be controversial. Anyone can enjoy it from any religious or non-religious background. It is not challenging what the Bible says and trying to discredit Jesus and his claims. It is also not shoving Jesus and his preaching down your throat. It's a simple movie filmed in the early 70's with its Hippies and a touch of Disco in the title song. It just simply tells a story through singing. A Rock and Roll Opera at its best. I'm sure God would approve. After all...God gave Rock and Roll to us.

Happy Easter!!!

Day of Sorrow

Today is Good Friday. A day of mourning. A day of sorrow. When I was a kid this was a big week to watch the mini-series Jesus of Nazareth on t.v. I always remember it being on this time of year. I searched the guide for it this year and I can't seem to find it. I can't seem to find anything to do with the Easter Story on t.v. this year. I suppose if I want to bring back the tradition of watching Jesus of Nazareth I am going to have to purchase the movie myself.

Since it is a day of mourning, I tried to remember the last movie that made me cry. Really made me cry. A movie that has put me so down in spirit that even after it was over I could not shake the heavy sadness from my heart. If I thought of the movie in detail, I would start crying all over again.

It's Marley and Me. Yes...the movie with Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. Cute, witty movie about a yellow lab with the very predictable outcome. Marley and Me is complete torture for me to watch. It sends me into a slobbering mess and hangs over me for hours...days.

I try to avoid dog movies at all cost. Every movie about a dog pretty much ends the same way. In some way or another, the dog meets it's maker by the end. Ever since Old Yeller, Hollywood just loves to take a lovable little pooch, form a loving bond with it and its master(s), make you love it, and then...rip your heart out.

I'm a huge dog lover. Had dogs my whole life. From a little Cairn Terrier that Santa gave me to my latest rescue mutt. Dogs are great. Dogs are loyal. Dogs are lovable. Dogs are everything Hollywood builds them up to be and more. Dogs truly are man's best friend.

I first heard about Marley when it was just a book. Everyone was reading it. Everyone was recommending it to me. Knowing it was about a dog and that it was a true story, I stayed as far away from that book as possible. This woman who loves a good violent movie just can't stomach a dog story.

Then they made the movie. The trailers looked so cute. Oh look, it's a goofy little puppy. Oh look, it's goofy Owen Wilson being all goofy with the goofy little puppy. There's Owen chasing that little puppy on the beach as that puppy runs and runs all full of life and puppy energy, grinning in that puppy way. You can practically smell that adorable puppy smell. The trailers made me want to run out and get a yellow lab ASAP.

The trailer, however, made me stay as far away from the movie as possible. I knew the inevitable. I knew what happens to that cute, adorable, goofy little yellow lab. Everybody knows what happened to Marley. Couldn't they just let it be? Just move on? They had to make a movie about it?

And then, it happened. It was on HBO early one morning, not to long ago. I tried to ignore it and put something else on. The View. Rachel Ray. CNN. Anything but Marley and Me. But, for some reason I decided that I would be a glutton for punishment. And I watched it.

At the time, I only had two dogs. I was alone with the kids in school and DH at work. So it was just me and my papillion and my schnauzer...on the couch...all alone...braving Marley and Me.

Marley and Me is actually a wonderful movie that all dog owners can relate to. It's not so much about a dog as it is about a family in which the dog is part of. And everyone one of us who has ever made a puppy a part of their family could relate to the different stages of life that Marley goes through. Those cute but tiring puppy days where they eat everything and anything. The decision to fix a dog and feeling the guilt, but knowing it's the right thing to do. Those little moments that create memories with the dog and gives the dog its own personality and makes it YOUR dog. You know that there is no other dog like your dog. And those final moments in a dog's life...the hardest moments...the moments where you have to make one of the hardest decisions of your adult life as a dog owner...the moments where you have to say good-bye and assure yourself that not only is it for the best, but that your dog is grateful for you and everything you've done for it, including those final moments.

The movie pretty much ended with me crying out my dogs' names as I clung to them and they looked at me like I was completely nuts. I had been there. We had that big, goofy pup. His name was Reggie. He was a rescue mutt, most likely Black Lab, maybe Doberman and Shepard. A little bit of this and a little bit of that, but a whole lot of love.

Reggie was our first commitment. DH and I adopted Reggie when we were just dating. We committed to that dog before we committed to each other. He was our first baby. Our first real responsibility for another life. We watched him grow from the naughty little puppy to a 93 lb. bundle of energy and love. He gave us kisses and joy. He gave us happiness and memories. He chewed holes in the wall and ate our bed.

Reggie had the world's most expensive dog house. When DH and I decided to move in together, we could not find an apartment that would let us keep Reggie. In the end my parents' decided to put in a semi-basement apartment for us. After months of digging out the basement and making it into a beautiful little apartment, DH and I and Reggie had a place to call our own.

Reggie was part of our lives for almost five years. He was there when we left for our honeymoon and there with a wagging tail when we came back. He was there when we went through a very dark time in our lives and he was there when we were blessed with our two babies, our most joyous times.

Unfortunately, Reggie did not make it to his fifth birthday. He had started to become sick. We tried medicines, but it just wasn't working. In the end, the vet told us that Reggie had served his purpose and his time had come. Reggie would never get to frolic in the yard with our kids.

Watching Marley and Me bought back all those memories of Reggie, good and bad. And I cried for the rest of the day. And still, I cry if I even think about certain scenes in Marley and Me. When DH came home from work that day and I tried to talk to him about the movie, the tears would flow again and he would laugh at me.

Marley and Me had such an impact on my emotions that I somehow managed to go in the opposite direction. I think most people would not want a dog or another dog after watching that movie. They would not want to go through the heart ache that comes with owning a dog. I saw it as a reminder that the world is filled with unwanted and unloved dogs. Shelters are overflowing. I read somewhere that because of the economy shelter drop offs are up something like 25 percent. Dogs and cats are being put to sleep before they are even available for adoption because shelters just don't have the room or the budget to keep them.

So, if you look at my profile picture, you will see Lola. A shelter dog. I somehow managed to convince DH that yes...we need a third dog. No, actually we didn't need a dog. A dog needed us. DH disagreed and insisted I was nuts, but he took me to the shelter to "browse". When they bought out Lola I saw it immediately. DH's eyes softened and he tried to fight the smile that was slowly growing on his face. Without looking away from the wriggly, over excited puppy he said "She looks just like Reggie did." I knew right then and there that she was going to come home with us.

No one forgets that first dog that they own as an adult. That first dog had such an impact that John Grogan chose to write about his. The wonderful Marley.

Thursday's 3 Line Reviews

I've decided that on Thursdays I will review movies that I have watched over the last week or so. I will keep the reviews short with only three lines. If you are looking for something to rent over the weekend, this is the place to get ideas of what to see and what to avoid.

MEMENTO-
Brilliantly bizarre. A mystery told backwards and the twist is at the beginning of the story. Always great to see Joe Pantoliano in a good role.

PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE-
A very simple yet disturbing film. Mo'Nique's portrayal of an abusive mother makes Dunaway's Mommie Dearest look like Mother Theresa. Gabourey Sidibe did a good job but I don't think it was Oscar worthy.

NELL-
A great idea on paper but poorly executed. Jodie Foster overdoes her portrayal of a feral woman and becomes annoying rather than intriguing. I realized I sound just like Nell when I baby talk to my dogs.

X-MEN ORIGINS:WOLVERINE-
The worse of the X-men movies. Thought the opening credits with Wolverine fighting different wars throughout history would have made a more interesting story. Needed more Ryan Reynolds.

DUNE-
Don't think I've ever watched half a movie until this one. The multiple voice overs are just ridiculous. Life's too short to waste on bad movies.

ANGELS AND DEMONS-
Enjoyed it. Love the whole cryptic clues in age old arts and the whole behind the scenes of the Vatican. Glad I didn't spend 10 bucks to see it though.

PEARL HARBOR-
Like Titanic, it is two stories in one and makes for a long viewing. Fabulous FX with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and really brings forth just how horrible it was. The corny lines ruin it though.

WRISTCUTTERS:A LOVE STORY-
Weird, whimsical, gray, and different. Very watchable. Also very forgettable.

TWILIGHT SAGA:NEW MOON-
Love the books, but thought the movie a bit slow and dragged out with bad acting. I'm Team Carlise. Does that say that I'm too old for these movies?

DIM SUM FUNERAL-
Finally a movie where we can learn about the traditions of Chinese culture, or so I thought. Talia Shire knew more about the traditional Chinese funeral than the Chinese characters. Very disappointing and the "twist" at the end just kinda pissed me off.

FRAILTY-
Simple low budget movie. Enjoyed Bill Paxton as a single dad of two young boys who is killing people because God said so. Has Dad completely lost it...or is he telling the truth?