Traginas. Every Time.

I'm pretty happy that it's Friday.

Daniel and I watched Gentlemen Broncos last night. Daniel described it as "Perfect."

I...

I am without words. It probably ranks in the top 3 of my "strangest non-foreign movies I've ever seen."
I don't even...I have no idea. So...weird...
The kind of weird that is too weird to laugh at. You just sit there, with a furrowed brow and a confused smirk on your face. Am I missing something here?
I'd say it seemed like the filmmakers were high on something, but they're Mormons. So that theory is out.
Instead of weird, one might call it awkward. The whole movie was awkward. But now that I think about it, Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre were pretty awkward. The first time I watched Napoleon I remember sitting in the theater with that familiar, confused smirk on my face. What the heck was that?

Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords was pretty stellar in the movie. He plays a famous Sci-Fi writer named Ronald Chevalier (make sure you pronounce it shev-al-ee-ay) whose lost his touch, and his publishers are threatening to drop him if he doesn't provide them with a decent story.
There's one scene in the movie that was, without a doubt, utterly hilarious. It involves Chevalier, an aspiring young Sci-Fi writer, and troll names.
There were several scenes in the movie that made me cringe - one involves a very strange hand massage, and one involves vomit and kissing. Yeah. Sick.

Since I wrote the above something has happened that may change things.

Daniel called me and we started quoting lines from the aforementioned awkward movie, and we were cracking ourselves up.

Why are those movies like that?

I'm going to let this marinate for a little while.

In other news...

Last night Daniel and I also had dinner with some friends (I am so thankful we didn't watch that movie with friends), and dinner was so delicious.
They grilled burgers for dinner, but these were special burgers.
All it took was a thin patty of ground beef, a mixture of cream cheese and jalapenos, and another thin patty of ground beef, sandwiched together and grilled. Voila: special hamburgers.

Yum.

Also, these friends of ours had a baby in March. So I spent half of the night holding a soft, sweet baby girl. Ahhh, Heaven.

Vogue and Bottleshock

Daniel and I watched Bottleshock on Sunday night. I really enjoyed it. The story was interesting and the scenery was gorgeous. I loved being taken out into the gorgeous, sunny, Californa wine country. It was golden with sunshine, and I could almost smell the ripening grapes. And I really like Alan Rickman.

I asked Daniel, "Doesn't that make you want to visit California?"
He nodded.
"We should just fly out there, rent a car, and explore the countryside and its wines. Doesn't that sound fun."
He nodded.

{via}

And that is an example of one of the many conversations we have about getting away together. It will never happen, but it is fun to dream.

Last night I watched the documentary The September Issue, about Vogue's...September Issue. Which is apparently their most significant, influential, big-deal issue of the year. I was completely fascinated. It was like watching The Devil Wears Prada as a true story. Anna Wintour, the Editor in Chief of Vogue is a slight but serious woman with a critical eye, and people tremble with fear when she enters the room. Fashion designers like Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta and Diane von Furstenberg welcome her into their homes and show her their top designs, hoping she'll place their gowns and shirts and scarves in the coveted pages of the September Issue. She doesn't show a sign of emotion as she peruses over designs and layouts--I found myself holding my breath as I waited for her reactions--does she like it? Will she keep it in the magazine?
I was most interested in the story of Grace Coddington. She's the Creative Director of Vogue with an eye for beauty and haute couture. And she's a former Vogue model that is kind of scary-looking now. But I think she likes the eccentric artist look. It suits her.

Grace in the old days:

Grace today:

I'm amazed by people whose creativity is so active and alive. In the documentary she speaks about how she keeps her eyes open at all times, open for inspiration. The photo shoots that she directed were gorgeous and whimsical.

{via}

I enjoy flipping through the pages of Vogue magazine. Some of it is silly, but I definitely see the art of fashion. I received a free subscription with a purchase about a year ago, and I'm amazed how much the things I see in that magazine influence the fashions I see on store hangers just weeks later. I look over the pages myself and I'm influenced by the styles and trends that I see there. It's kind of intriguing to think of how that industry makes such an impression on the population. Some people hate it, some people don't care, some people take an interest in it (like me), and some people go completely overboard.

Watching the documentary last night I thought about what it would be like to spend my days in that type of creativity. Picking out fashions and costumes for photo shoots and designing sets; traveling to Rome and Paris and London on a monthly basis; defending my designs to a critical editor. I think it would be interesting. Worlds away from what I spend my days doing now!

I defnitely wouldn't mind the Rome and Paris and London part.

P.S. I saw this dress in Anthropologie today and fell in love.

What's that you say? I would look so nice in that? It is my birthday in two days...

if you have nothing to do this Easter weekend...

Wait, rewind.

Have we ever talked about my deep and undying love for BBC Miniseries based on classic literature?
Typically, in my opinion, if it's made by the BBC and it's based on a book, I have high hopes that it will be fantastic. Plus, there are so many great classics out there with wonderful stories, and I love that BBC really seems to try to bring out the important themes and elements of those stories in their portrayals.
For example, most people have seen the 6-episode Pride and Prejudice that is basically flawless. At least, I think it is. It's hard to top Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy--he was tremendous.
(Although, I did like Matthew Macfayden as Mr. Darcy in the 2005 adaptation with Kiera Knightley)

You have bewitched me, body and soul...

Ahh, I shall faint.

Well I have many, many lesser known favorites that I want to share with you. Because I believe that you must see these miniseries. It is for your own good, to help you become well-rounded men and women of understanding and depth. Like me.
(And most of these are available for your viewing pleasure on Netflix Instant Play)

Our Mutual Friend - based on the novel by Charles Dickens.

Let me just say, it's a little dark in certain parts.
But I loved the story of Bella Wilfur and John Harmon and the development of their characters.
I was so inspired by Bella's growth and change of heart. It's a beautiful love story.
Daniel laughed at me because it is a pretty suspensful story, and had myself all tied up in knots over it. But the end it so satisfying!












Wives and Daughters - based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell

I love, love, love this series.
I watch it over, and over, and over again and never, never, never get tired of it.
I love it.
And I admire Molly (the heroine) so very much. People confide in her, and even at the risk of her own reputation she keeps their secrets, realizing that the secrets are not hers to tell.
It made me think a lot about being a trustworthy person.

My favorite line of the movie: ,"I’m not saying she was very silly, but one of us was silly and it wasn’t me."






Jane Eyre - based on the novel by Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre may take the cake. I actually read the book after watching this series and was amazed at how accurate the movie is. I've read some negative opinions about the story itself, but personally I love the story. It makes me weak in the knees like P&P does.

Oh, how I loved watching this series.












North and South - based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell

I just finished watching this series for the second time and loved it even more than I did the first time I watched it. It is rather dark, but has a P&P type of love story.
You should watch it. You may get frustrated with the prideful attitudes of the two main characters in the beginning (like me -- kind of like Elizabeth and Darcy!), but if you stick with it I think you'll be happy in the end. So happy!

I just love it when characters are redeemed.










So, if you are bored this weekend don't come crying to me. I've just provided you with hours of entertainment.

If you've seen any of these, let me know what you thought. Talking movies is a favorite pasttime of mine.
Or if you have any recommendations, please oh please do tell.

A Fallacious Notion

Last night Daniel and I watched Woody Allen's latest movie, Whatever Works. 
I like Woody Allen's movies sometimes. Manhattan Murder Mystery, Small Time Crooks, Everyone Says I Love You and Hollywood Ending are among some of my favorites. Daniel and I saw Vicki, Christina, Barcelona a couple of years ago and it was stupid. Although I did enjoy the Spanish scenery and guitar music. It was very romantic. But the story was stupid.
Whatever Works is sort of in the same vein. It's a story of people who discover "love" (or lust?) in unconventional or unexpected places, and they let go of their morals and traditions and beliefs and hesitations and fall headlong into dysfunctional but "fulfilling" relationships. I use so many "" because it all feels very contrived in the movie. I felt like a particular worldview was not just being examined and explored in the movie, but completely shoved down my throat.

The basic message of the film was very clear: whatever comfort, joy, and love you are able to find in life, grasp hold of it. Whatever works for you. The main character, Boris Yelnikoff boils it down to:

My story is, whatever works as long as you don't hurt anybody. Any way you can filtch a little joy in this life cruel and pointless life, that's my story.

And as the movie tries to communicate this theme, it launches an attack on Christians and political conservatives. (Well, in the beginning it acts like it is attacking anyone religious, but it pinpoints Christianity as the movie progresses).
Now let me be clear, a lot of it is funny. Because a lot of it is true, unfortunately. And rather than get sad about it I laugh...then I get sad later.

From the very beginning however, it becomes clear that Boris Yelnikoff (he is the Woody Allen type of the film) bases his theories and assumptions about Christianity and other religions on a false premise. A fundamental flaw.
Actually, his premise may be correct about other religions. But about Christianity, it is not.
He claims that,

...they all suffer from one fatal flaw...Which is they're all based on the fallacious notion that people are fundamentally decent...They're not stupid, selfish, greedy,cowardly, short-sighted worms.

I can just picture Woody, so pleased with himself for unveiling this clever, shockingly cynical belief that man is not all that good!

Well Woody (if that's even your real name), I agree with you. But I'm a Calvinist. So the whole total depravity thing is fundamental to my Christian beliefs. Woe is me. I believe that without Christ I am a stupid, selfish, greedy, cowardly, short-sighted (so short-sighted!) worm (a worm, I tell you!).

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

and...

God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)

In the movie, the southern, conservative Christians are characterized as superstitious, unintelligent, sexually-repressed nincompoops. One of them ends up cheating on her husband, one ends up living in a ménage trois, and one ends up discovering he's a homosexual. And in the end they abandon that silly religion and prayer and faith and finally discover "Whatever Works" is the only thing that matters in this pointless, tiny, fatal existence we call life.


Blah, blah, blah.


But still, it made me think a lot about how those who are not Christians perceive Christians. Does the church widely represent itself as a place where self-righteous people gather together to get away from the non-believers? Does the church refuse to recognize scientific truths out of fear that the Scriptures will not stand the test?


And now for the rabbit trail.


I compared it to another movie I watched the other night, Angels and Demons. Though the two are nothing alike in genre, story, message, or style.
I know a lot of people think Dan Brown is aggressively persecuting the Catholic church and Christians, and maybe he is. I haven't read his books. But when I watched the movie (which I enjoyed), I recognized a degree of reverance and respect for the church. The movie didn't write off every Christian as an ignorant maniac trying to repress the truths of science (as Whatever Works seemed to want to do).  I liked how one of the main characters in Angels and Demons spoke about science and faith:

... but science and religion are not enemies! There are simply some things that science is just too young to understand. So the church pleads: "stop", "slow down", "think", "wait"... and for this - they call us backward. But who is more ignorant: the man who cannot define lightening, or the man who does not respect its natural awesome power?

Done.


My very favorite part of Whatever Works was the opening credits.
The song that played, actually, because other than that it was just white text against a black screen. It made me giggle and I've been singing the song and giggling to myself every waking moment since.
This appeals to my sense of humor in a big way. It's just who I am. 
And this morning, I set out to find the clip. Here it is, I hope you enjoy it as I do.
(I just love it when he sings, I'll stay the summer throuuuuugh. Ha ha ha)

'Feel Good'

DG and I watched the movie Penelope last night and we both really enjoyed it. It's one of those movie's about "self discovery" and all that mush. And I recommend it. There's a good amount of the silly and whimsical to get lost in. I love movie experiences like that.

Also, please watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QHbMojr7SQ

I love it!!!!

Make Way For Ducklings!

When I was a child I used to love the story Make Way for Ducklings. I remember looking over the pages and examining the beautiful brown-ink illustrations on cream-colored paper. I still have this book sitting on a shelf in my house. A couple of weekends ago when we had our wonderful houseguests I read the book as a bedtime story to the children.
Anyway...
At the entrance of our neighborhood there is a large pond inhabited by your typical pond creatures--including four ducks, two of which are male Mallards. This morning as I was leaving for work, the ducks were crossing the street to reach a nice little patch of bushes on the other side of the road. I had to stop my car and wait for them to waddle across.
In the movie You've Got Mail Meg Ryan's character says at one point, "So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around?"
I happen to like it when things I see remind me of what I read. Because, we're all symbols of symbols of symbols right? Typology and all that.

Tomorrow is my birthday. Daniel's already given me my presents. This was a big birthday, folks! A real big one! I got an Apple desktop and Photoshop CS3 to go along with it. I never thought I'd ever own an Apple OR Photoshop and I am so excited. I really need to take the time to sit down and play with it because I have't hardly at all. I'm very intimidated by it, actually.

Netflix.com is becoming quite a habit for me. We've been streaming video like crazy--all BBC/Masterpiece Theater. Daniel and I are particularly enjoying a series called Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. It's very clever and political, and I think I only enjoy it because Daniel does. I think that because I've tried watching the show on my own and I really don't plug in to it very well by myself.
My recommendations of what I've seen (if you're interested!):
I watched a wonderful, wonderful 11-epidsode adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.
I thoroughly enjoyed a 4-episode adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters. Currently I'm in the middle of Anthony Trollope's The Way We Live Now, and it's pretty good. Not my favorite so far.
I've also watched hours and hours and hours of 30 Rock. So funny.

I also found a Jane Austen PodCast on itunes where I can download podcasts of someone reading her books! With a British accent!!

I made homemade Tiramisu and it is awesome.

Easter was great. Very low-key. But great.
Hope you all had a joyous Easter!

xoxo-KG

You'll Be Glad to Say You Know Me.

Today I was sitting in the lobby, minding my own business when a young man walked through our doors holding a camera and looking artsy-fartsy.
He approached my desk and shared with me that he was with the crew of the show Friday Night Lights and they were looking for an office that fit certain criteria for a certain scene. Looking around, he said he felt he was in the right place.
I hooked him up with one of our office managers who handles the crazies and she escorted him to a couple of offices that might fit the scene he described. After several minutes she brought him back to the lobby, said her goodbyes and thank yous and left him standing in the middle of the room.
He looked around for a moment and said, "This lobby might even work..." and began to snap pictures with his artsy-fartsy Canon.

Then suddenly he turned to me and said, "Have you ever thought about going into show-business? You'd be wonderful."
And I said, "Well yes, I have actually. And thank you, you're too kind."
And then he said, "I'm actually a talent scout and I think you're the next Audrey Hepburn. Here's my card...Call me."
And he walked out side, climbed into a black stretch-limo and drove off into the distance.

Actually, that whole part after he started snapping pictures of the lobby might not have happened. But he did come back this afternoon and offer me a job. Only not really.
They are going to be filming here, and that's the truth.
Who knows, maybe they'll need a cheerful receptionist in some office scene.

And then I'll become famous and adopt babies from Zimbabwe and have a house on the Cote d'Azur and you'll all be welcome to come for a visit.

P.S. Daniel and I watched the movie Smart People last night and I laughed a little...but when it was over I realized I hated it with all of my being. And those people? They are not smart. They're not even good actors.

Quiet Mornings

Ever heard of the "learning curve"?

I don't know exactly what that means, but I use the phrase all the time as if I do.

I think it refers to that point you come to in your education on a particular subject where you finally "get it."

Know what I mean?

Right now, I'm just beginning to feel pretty comfortable in my new position at work. I'm sure-footed, not always feeling like I'm just barely not screwing up. People recognize me and I recognize them. I'm finishing assignments more efficiently, and I actually have a few minutes here and there to check my email or blog here. I'm relaxing. But make no mistake: it's not the same as getting lazy.

Getting up so early in the mornings isn't as hard as it was at first, and I feel more energetic and alert in the mornings (post-coffee). The last couple of days the sun has shone brightly through my east-facing windows, and I love it. The lobby where I sit faces two walls of windows that give me a panoramic view of the trees, fields and sky around our building. This past week the afternoons have brought raging storms with them, and the windows give me a front-row seat to see the gusting winds and lightening strikes.

As I sit and watch the storms, a handful of people dart in and out of the doors, cursing because they left their windows cracked. It's really beautiful...



I never mentioned this, but a couple of weekends ago Daniel and I went to see Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona, Woody Allen's latest film. I was looking forward to seeing Javier Bardem in a non-villainous (sorta)role, and I've always liked Penelope Cruz for the most part. The movie was okay. There was a "lack of moral compass" in most of the characters, characters trying to break the mold, defy the status-quo, seeking fulfillment in sexual experimentation and love affairs. Allen's theme of people bored with life, looking at the green grass on the other side was present, as usual.

The movie was filmed in Spain, and the scenes were filled with beautiful scenery and Spanish guitar. But it wasn't his best...in fact it felt a little lazy to me. The humor sort of fell flat in an attempt to sound intellectual, and in fact ended up seeming shallow and stupid.

I was pleased with the ending, however. Typical of a Woody Allen film. The characters realize what they thought they wanted wasn't what they wanted at all, yet there's a certain bitterness in their returning to the life they didn't want from the beginning. The message seems to be, no matter who or where you are, life get's old, dreams remain unfulfilled, happiness is elusive. And yet...And yet you feel a twinge of humor and optimism in the midst of all the cynicism.

Bardem and Cruz were charming, and played their parts well. I found Johanssen lacking in...oomph.

Can't say I really recommend the movie, but I didn't not enjoy the movie. It was just okay. Okay?



I'm so looking forward to a three-day weekend. It should be refreshing.

I miss Daniel today. Sometimes we work so much I feel like I never see the guy.

Every night when I go to bed at 9:45 he tells me I'm an old lady and asks me if I remembered to take my Metamucil (sp?) and can he get me my cane?

What a turd.

I'm, like, freaking out!

November 21, 2008

The Final Countdown

From Film Critic Kyle Smith's review of The Dark Knight:

As was true of the blundering Hancock in the comedy of the same name, Batman can’t claim public love. His approval ratings are in the tank. Maybe he should stop inviting terrorist attacks by being such an inflexible anti-terrorist. Maybe he should be locked up while people learn to live with the Joker. Isn’t it Batman’s fault that cops have been killed in action?
“I’m a guy with simple tastes. I enjoy dynamite and gunpowder and gasoline,” says the Joker. Okay, and as for the turn-ons of Bachelor No. 2, the Dark Knight has equally explosive interests. He sets up a system for monitoring pretty much everyone, everywhere. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” he says. That shuddery feeling going through the audience doesn’t arise solely from Ledger’s death. Batman lives in a messy world. If no one else is willing to make hard choices, he will.

Most of you may know this, but the much anticipated Dark Knight is released in theaters all over the country tomorrow. It's pretty rare that a movie gets this much buzz--largely due, I think most would admit, to Heath Ledger's suprising death earlier this year. It has also been interesting to read how hard the media is trying to push this political agenda onto it. The way this film critic puts it, I can see the correlation. But I think this may just be a coincidence: Super heroes are tough on crime. And that's something the Left just. can't. deal. with.
What would that movie look like? Batman would take away all of his anonymity and sit down, face to face with the Joker and talk things through. Then they would walk, hand in hand, off into the sunset to dwell in peace forever. And Harvey Dent would never become Two-Face.

P.S. I LOVE comic book movies. And if this Batman is half as good as Batman Begins, I'll be one happy camper.

Okay, This is the LAST One.

I love movies.
And I'm having way too much fun with this top 100 nonsense.

Here's AFI's list of the top 100 movies in the last 100 years.
Promise, this is the last one.

Bold: Seen it.

1. Citizen Kane, 1941.
2. The Godfather, 1972.
3. Casablanca, 1942.
4. Raging Bull, 1980.
5. Singin' in the Rain, 1952.
6. Gone With the Wind, 1939.
7. Lawrence of Arabia, 1962.
8. Schindler's List, 1993.
9. Vertigo, 1958.
10. The Wizard of Oz, 1939.
11. City Lights, 1931.
12. The Searchers, 1956.
13. Star Wars, 1977.
14. Psycho, 1960.
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968.
16. Sunset Blvd., 1950.
17. The Graduate, 1967.
18. The General, 1927.
19. On the Waterfront, 1954.
20. It's a Wonderful Life, 1946.
21. Chinatown, 1974.
22. Some Like It Hot, 1959.
23. The Grapes of Wrath, 1940.
24. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, 1982.
25. To Kill a Mockingbird, 1962.
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1939.
27. High Noon, 1952.
28. All About Eve, 1950.
29. Double Indemnity, 1944.
30. Apocalypse Now, 1979.
31. The Maltese Falcon, 1941.
32. The Godfather Part II, 1974.
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1975.
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937.
35. Annie Hall, 1977.
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957.
37. The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946.
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, 1948.
39. Dr. Strangelove, 1964.
40. The Sound of Music, 1965.
41. King Kong, 1933.
42. Bonnie and Clyde, 1967.
43. Midnight Cowboy, 1969.
44. The Philadelphia Story, 1940.
45. Shane, 1953.
46. It Happened One Night, 1934.
47. A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951.
48. Rear Window, 1954.
49. Intolerance, 1916.
50. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001.
51. West Side Story, 1961.
52. Taxi Driver, 1976.
53. The Deer Hunter, 1978.
54. M-A-S-H, 1970.
55. North by Northwest, 1959.
56. Jaws, 1975.
57. Rocky, 1976.
58. The Gold Rush, 1925.
59. Nashville, 1975.
60. Duck Soup, 1933.
61. Sullivan's Travels, 1941.
62. American Graffiti, 1973.
63. Cabaret, 1972.
64. Network, 1976.
65. The African Queen, 1951.
66. Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981.
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966.
68. Unforgiven, 1992.
69. Tootsie, 1982.
70. A Clockwork Orange, 1971.
71. Saving Private Ryan, 1998.
72. The Shawshank Redemption, 1994.
73. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969.
74. The Silence of the Lambs, 1991.
75. In the Heat of the Night, 1967.
76. Forrest Gump, 1994.
77. All the President's Men, 1976.
78. Modern Times, 1936.
79. The Wild Bunch, 1969.
80. The Apartment, 1960.
81. Spartacus, 1960.
82. Sunrise, 1927.
83. Titanic, 1997.
84. Easy Rider, 1969.
85. A Night at the Opera, 1935.
86. Platoon, 1986.
87. 12 Angry Men, 1957.
88. Bringing Up Baby, 1938.
89. The Sixth Sense, 1999.
90. Swing Time, 1936.
91. Sophie's Choice, 1982.
92. Goodfellas, 1990.
93. The French Connection, 1971.
94. Pulp Fiction, 1994.
95. The Last Picture Show, 1971.
96. Do the Right Thing, 1989.
97. Blade Runner, 1982.
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy, 1942.
99. Toy Story, 1995.
100. Ben-Hur, 1959.

Total Score: 57

To use film-speak, that's a wrap! These lists are officially in the can.

But I'd love to see how you do.

You Know You Want to Play.

And now for: "What Karen does with her time instead of reading books:"

EW's New Classics: 100 Movies
Bolded: Seen it
Underlined: Love it.

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)
3. Titanic (1997)
4. Blue Velvet (1986)
5. Toy Story (1995)
6. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
7. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
9. Die Hard (1988)
10. Moulin Rouge (2001)
11. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
12. The Matrix (1999)
13. GoodFellas (1990)
14. Crumb (1995)
15. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
16. Boogie Nights (1997)
17. Jerry Maguire (1996)
18. Do the Right Thing (1989)
19. Casino Royale (2006)
20. The Lion King (1994)
21. Schindler's List (1993)
22. Rushmore (1998)
23. Memento (2001)
24. A Room With a View (1986)
25. Shrek (2001)
26. Hoop Dreams (1994)
27. Aliens (1986)
28. Wings of Desire (1988)
29. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
30. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
31. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
32. Fight Club (1999)
33. The Breakfast Club (1985)
34. Fargo (1996)
35. The Incredibles (2004)
36. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
37. Pretty Woman (1990)
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
39. The Sixth Sense (1999)
40. Speed (1994)
41. Dazed and Confused (1993)
42. Clueless (1995)
43. Gladiator (2000)
44. The Player (1992)
45. Rain Man (1988)
46. Children of Men (2006)
47. Men in Black (1997)
48. Scarface (1983)
49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
50. The Piano (1993)
51. There Will Be Blood (2007)
52. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988)
53. The Truman Show (1998)
54. Fatal Attraction (1987)
55. Risky Business (1983)
56. The Lives of Others (2006)
57. There’s Something About Mary (1998)
58. Ghostbusters (1984)
59. L.A. Confidential (1997)
60. Scream (1996)
61. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
62. sex, lies and videotape (1989)
63. Big (1988)
64. No Country For Old Men (2007)
65. Dirty Dancing (1987)
66. Natural Born Killers (1994)
67. Donnie Brasco (1997)
68. Witness (1985)
69. All About My Mother (1999)
70. Broadcast News (1987)
71. Unforgiven (1992)
72. Thelma & Louise (1991)
73. Office Space (1999)
74. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
75. Out of Africa (1985)
76. The Departed (2006)
77. Sid and Nancy (1986)
78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
79. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
80. Michael Clayton (2007)
81. Moonstruck (1987)
82. Lost in Translation (2003)
83. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
84. Sideways (2004)
85. The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)
86. Y Tu Mamá También (2002)
87. Swingers (1996)
88. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
89. Breaking the Waves (1996)
90. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
91. Back to the Future (1985)
92. Menace II Society (1993)
93. Ed Wood (1994)
94. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
95. In the Mood for Love (2001)
96. Far From Heaven (2002)
97. Glory (1989)
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
99. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
100. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

A total score of: 55.

I tag anyone who reads this. Fun, fun!

he still hates snakes.

As a very last-minute plan, my Thursday night friends and I (they are also my Sunday lunch and sometimes Friday night friends) decided to see the new Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull flick.
Know this: it is dripping with "summer movie-ness." And if you see it, do so remembering what strange people Lucas and Spielberg are. I think they are getting stranger with age...maybe not. But it is very...far-fetched. I enjoyed it. I didn't enjoy it as much as Raiders or Last Crusdade, but it fit in with the silly, action-packed Indiana Jones films we all are familiar with. Harrison Ford is a puzzle to me. Sometimes he is such a stiff, flat, boring actor, and then all of a sudden he's cracking you up and being totally believable. There were several moments like that in the movie.
Also, I'm usually a fan of Cate Blanchett in movies. But as the villian in Crystal I could hardly stand her. The fast pace of the movie and Harrison Ford + Shia LeBeouf + Karen Allen made up for her irritating involvement, I think. Shia LeBeouf is a good actor and I like him. He was funny and he and Harrison Ford were quite the comedic team in parts.
The film was no No Country for Old Men, but it wasn't trying to be. There wasn't a lot of thought or depth involved. But it was good, clean fun.
I'll tell you this: Daniel really liked it!

I saw previews for Hancock starring Will Smith, which looks original and funny; I saw a long trailer for The Dark Knight which looks dark and scary; and I saw one for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt, and it looks incredibly strange and I was a little disturbed just by the preview.
I'm excited about the fact that Maggie Gyllenhaal is the love interest in The Dark Knight. There's something about her that I just really like. And I think she's a good actress. Katie Holmes was just terrible in Batman Begins. I think that was the one thing I didn't really like about the movie.
Aaron Eckhart also has some role in The Dark Knight--I liked him in Thank You for Smoking.

This post is super boring!

Tonight I'm taking the dogs to the greenbelt after work and hopefully taking some pictures. I love watching them play at the greenbelt. They are just the cutest things ever!
Other than that, no big plans this weekend. I'm just happy I have Monday off.