When I went to see The Counterfeiters at Magnolia a few months ago, I saw the poster for The Fall.  It caught my eye as I was headed to the ladies room before the movie started.  I stood transfixed by the poster.  I’m not really sure why; I just stared at it a few moments, and then I saw the starring line, and great googly moogly, I couldn’t believe my eyes.  Lee Pace was the star?!  Then I got to see a trailer for it before The Counterfeiters, and I was speechless.  I HAD to see this movie!

Ok, so at this point, you’re probably thinking, “Who the heck is Lee Pace?”  Well, he’s only the cutest thing to ever hit the silver screen.  If it’s possible, I’m more enamored with him than Daniel Day Lewis and Hugh Jackman put together.  Yeah, I know; it’s probably hard to believe, but I think it’s got a lot to do with the character he was playing the first time I ever saw him: Ned, the Piemaker, from Pushing Daisies.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

I can’t even think where to begin for this blog, which, I’m sure, is partially due to how much I was completely shocked by my total adoration for this movie.

I saw a billboard for Leatherheads at the movie theater when I went to see Michael Clayton back in February, and by the time I actually saw it in the dollar theater a few weeks ago, I’d totally forgotten that it even existed.  Of course, I knew virtually nothing about it, but I like George Clooney and I LOVE John Krasinski (Where, oh where is the Jim to match my Pam in my real-life office?!), so I figured together they could cancel out my mild dislike for Renee Zellweger.

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Popularity: 15% [?]

So this blog was supposed to be about Mama Mia.  Faithful Angelika had come through with a free screening pass to Mama Mia, and I invited my old college roommate, who lives in Bedford, to make the trek to Dallas on a Thursday night to see it with me.  We were going to make a night of it: dinner and a beer at Trinity Hall and then laughing and singing our way through the movie version of the HIGHLY acclaimed musical.

That’s when we got in line and found out that they had filled the theater in record time.  Oh well, all was not lost.  If we hadn’t spent a few extra minutes chatting at Trinity, we might have gotten in, and then we would have missed out on Then She Found Me.

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Popularity: 23% [?]

I love M. Night Shyamalan’s films.  The man makes me speechless.  The storylines in Sixth Sense, Signs and The Village will always be amongst my favorites, especially The Village.  There was just something haunting about it and the character that Joaquin Phoenix played.  Lady in the Water was different from what the first trailers made me expect, but I still enjoyed it.  I even liked Unbreakable, although I don’t remember a lot about it.

So I was really looking forward to seeing The Happening.  Even though it was being marketed as an actual horror film, of which I’ve never been too fond, I knew that Shyamalan would put his own spin on it that would not include a half-naked, screaming blond.  He did not disappoint me in that respect; however, the movie fell flat.  
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Popularity: 31% [?]

Seeing how I am a self-professed comic geek, I am generally my friends’ go-to source for any and everything comic book related. Currently, the most often asked question that I am getting is: “Why did they make another Incredible Hulk movie? Didn’t they just make one a couple of years ago?”

To answer that question, Marvel (comics) is taking a new direction with their movies. They will not be auctioning off licensing to the highest bidder as was done with Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, and Hulk. In doing so, we were subjected Spider-Man with organic webbing, The FF looking like a 2 hour commercial for toys, and the Hulk trying to be cerebral and romantic – Ang Lee style. Also with different studios owning the movies, the fans were never going to see crossover cameos like Tony Stark made in the Incredible Hulk.

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Popularity: 36% [?]

Music is a very important and evident aspect of film.

Musical cues in films help the audience to feel a certain way, whether it is happy or sad with sappy violins or pianos, alerts of upcoming danger with sharp and eerie notes, or signals the end of a film by playing upbeat Top 40 songs.

I just finished watching Jurassic Park, and the musical cues in this film are very evident. The main theme for the film plays throughout the film and becomes very familiar and very comforting. The composer for the film created wonderful scores; most that made me feel for the characters, but more importantly, the dinosaurs. The music within the film is definitely one of a kind and still to this day, is easily recognized, much among the ranks of the music from Jaws.
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Popularity: 30% [?]

Just like Rene Zellweger tells Tom Cruise that he “had her at hello” in Jerry Maguire, the Counterfeiters had me at Nazi and Concentration Camp when I read the synopsis.  I’ve always been fascinated by the European part of World War II, especially the Holocaust.  I didn’t even read past those buzz words, so I was surprised to find that it was based on a true story about concentration camp prisoners who are given preferential treatment due to their special abilities which will help the Reich counterfeit the British pound and the American dollar.

The winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2008 tells the story of these prisoners who succeeded in counterfeiting £132 million in £5, £10 and £20 notes.  Their delay in counterfeiting the dollar was pivotal.  Had they not delayed, the Nazis might have been able to flood the American economy; thereby, possibly causing a very different outcome to WWII in Europe.
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Popularity: 27% [?]

After spending most of my weekend watching “chick flicks’, I began to think about the pros and cons of the genre as a whole. Now I love a good girly movie, as they usually involve good looking men, some of my favorite female actresses and a fairy tale ending so what’s not to love. However as a single woman, it is possible that the common romantic comedy is indeed the bane of my existence.

On one hand the story presented on screen in such a way that women might have a “maybe this could happen to me” moment, so one might argue romantic comedies are hopeful and inspirational to singles everywhere. You might find yourself trying the personals or online dating sites because it worked in “You’ve Got Mail” and “Must love dogs” or maybe you start planning a vacation, because women in the movies always meet the love of their life on vacation, right? Continue Reading

Popularity: 11% [?]

If you are like me, then you recognize the title of this article from The Sandlot and if not, you just think I’m an idiot. A friend pointed out that I use quite a bit of “movie speak” in everyday conversations, mostly because she had no idea why I felt the need to say “Alright, alright, alright” when apparently, to her, one “Alright” would have sufficed. Anyone who has ever seen Mr. McConaughey in his pink pants knows what I’m talking about. After some deliberation I realized how often I use movie quotes, and I am hoping I’m not alone. So this is part blog/part poll to see who shares my apparent love of “movie speak”. I give you my Top 5 most often quoted movies:

Not only can I quote the entire movie, but I have been known to throw out “You gotta keep livin’ man, L-I-V-I-N” just because I can. I also find that “It's what everybody in this car needs is some good ol' worthwhile visceral experience” comes in handy as a road trip begins. Dazed is a cult classic, and for good reason, so please tell me I’m not the only one adores this cinematic gem.  

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Popularity: 13% [?]

You knew this one was coming, people.  You had to; if you didn’t, you haven’t been reading my blogs, and you certainly didn’t read my Made of Honor blog.

I told a friend’s boyfriend about a month ago that this movie was to women what the opening of Phantom Menace was to men in 1999.  He said that that was ludicrous.  Had I waited 16 years between movies (in this case the series and the movie)?  No.  No, I hadn’t, but it’s still a HUGE occasion. Continue Reading

Popularity: 11% [?]

Ok, I'm about to hand over my dude card and confess that I, she who loves beer, UFC, fishing, burping, and home depot, loved Sex In the City, the movie. Yes, it was predictable. Yes, it was the pure definition of chick flick. And yes, I would most definitely go see it again. Lucky for me, I am a female. Despite my otherwise manly indulgences, I have a ticket that excuses me from the ridicule of my fellow peers. Men, however, don't have it so easy.

My husband and I have been avid Sex in the City fans since the comfort stage of our relationship. You know the one, six months after the first sleep over when you no longer purposely match your underwear to earn "best girlfriend ever" points.

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Popularity: 10% [?]