Les Misery

No, sorry, this is not about Les Miserables I am sorry but at least with this title you do not have to exert any phlegm and can actually pronounce it correctly.  This post is actually about the 1990 Thriller "Misery" starring Kathy Bates and James Caan.  The movie is awesome and I found it to be a very fitting post considering Kathy Bates' latest role in "American Horror Story:Coven" which she is nailing every week since its premiere so far in my opinion.

I really wanted to do this post because a lot of my friends did not know who Kathy Bates was and I freaked out and thought it was my duty to make sure others knew who exactly this great actress was.

So "Misery" is a thriller based off of Stephen King's hit novel "Misery" where a famous novelist gets into a car crash up in the snowy mountains and is rescued  by his self-proclaimed BIGGEST FAN (played by Kathy Bates).  The writer soon finds himself in deep trouble when his Biggest Fan drowns him with her obsession and will not let the man leave.

Like how creepy is that!?! And don't worry, I did not spoil anything because I was told that exact same plotline and was still freaking out as my sister and I watched the movie and were definitely screaming at the TV screen and sweating with blankets tightly wrapped around ourselves.  

Sweet ol' Kathy Bates from "Titanic" and "Fried Green Tomatoes" decided to give me a whole new perspective on her acting capabilities with this movie and she also gave me enough reasoning to always road trip with somebody and never drive anywhere far with terrible weather conditions unless I want .... well, you'll find out what happens.

The movie won Kathy Bates an ACADEMY AWARD and a GOLDEN GLOBE both for Best Performances by an Actress and let me just say that she was up against Julia Roberts, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon, Angelica Huston, and the head honcho - MERYL STREEP so if that does not put it into perspective of how well she did I have no idea what other way to tell you to watch this movie.

I think it is on Netflix but I am not 100% sure, but either way if you do not have netflix I am sure you have some means of finding a way to watch it and SUPER DUPER RECOMMEND it especially since it is October and it is perfect for Halloween especially for those of you who are not Horror fans but LOVE a good thriller

Be Careful Though, She is Out There

Take Life One Day at a Time

I really wish that during the season of the Academy Awards, that any and all movies that are nominated should screen at movie theaters because I have found so many times that a lot of the movies that are nominated.. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF!  And I mean come on, if they're nominated for an Oscar, they deserve a lot more credit than being "this year's indie hit" or whatever.

For example, Rabbit Hole was a drama that came out in 2010 that I had not heard about until the night of the Academy Awards hearing about a nomination for something that sounded like an Alice in Wonderland spin-off.  And I didn't even come to watch the movie until we finally got Netflix and I watched a buttload of movie staying up all night.  And I LOVED THE MOVIE

The movie stars Nicole Kidman (nominated for Best Actress) and Aaron Eckhart and follows their once happy marriage after the accidental death of young son.  I honestly feel like this Drama was so under appreciated and highly recommend you watch it... Now... Do It.

Centering around the couple as they cope with the tragedy that came into their lives, the movie follows the most honest and accurate representation of how people cope with the death of loved ones and sometimes end up hurting others while trying not to endure any more emotional pain than what they themselves are already going through.  The long term effects of something so depressing and heartbreaking can really take a toll on a family leading one to question all that is their new reality.

One looks to others to see how they coped with a similar situation even though no one could possibly ever feel like they feel.

One questions their faith wondering "Why me? Why my son? What kind of destiny holds such a tragic component to some big plan?"

One even considers acting out in any way possibly finding an escape from it or possibly something to keep their minds off of the truth.

It isn't terribly depressing so hold off on being afraid of leaving this movie with puffy eyes and an empty box of kleenex, but it did speak to me in an interesting way and I came to love it immensely especially for it's ultimate message to just take life day by day and not look for much more than that.  When you see your world turned upside down, just take a moment to sit back and see what it is you CAN do.. and start there

It's Good to Laugh at Oneself

Has anyone watched the movie Enchanted lately?

It is a actually a really good movie that brings an honest smile to my face as it mashes up the real world with the world of animation!

But what I honestly love the most out of it all is that it is a Disney movie that basically pokes fun at itself and the typical princess stereotype that Disney created

You know the stereotype I am talking about too right?

Everything is positive.  Has never felt the emotion of anger. Sings beautiful melodies while cleaning and finding true love. And of course gasping at every little second.

BUT WAIT HEAR ME OUT! I am not hating on the princesses, I am actually applauding and finding it awesome that Disney was able to have some fun in this movie by placing the stereotypical princess.. in the real world *DUN DUN DUUUUUUN*

And Amy Adams (who plays Giselle) in the movie does an amazing job doing just this. 

I also think its awesome that they "call out" all the random singing that usually goes on in such animated movies Disney loves to intertwine into films and amusingly directs scenes in the way that they would most likely happen if someone were to randomly bust out in a musical ballad in the middle of the street....literally

ANOTHER fun thing I learned after watching this movie was that there are a TON of Disney references in the movie (thanks Wikipedia)

• The storybook opening is a tribute to the openings of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Cinderella, The Sword in the Stone, Sleeping Beauty and others.

• The troll's loincloth consists of remnants of the Disney princesses' dresses, Snow White's rags, Belle's village dress, Aurora's peasant dress, and Cinderella's maid outfit.

• Narissa disguises herself as a hag just as the Evil Queen does in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

• Giselle mistakes a little person in New York City for Grumpy

• "Happy Working Song" is a homage to "Whistle While You Work"

• Jodi Benson plays Robert's Secretary Sam and voiced Ariel in The Little Mermaid

• Giselle sings to her dream prince just as Ariel does with the statue of Eric

• The Troll's earrings are made of the shell bra Ariel wears

• As Giselle studies the fish tank at Robert's office, an instrumental version of "Part of Your World" is played in the background.

• "That's How You Know" is an homage to "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl" 

• Judy Kuhn makes a cameo appearance as one of the residents in Robert's building (credited as "Pregnant Woman with Kids") and she voiced the singing voice of Pocahontas

• The bus driver's hair is shaped like the ears of Mickey Mouse 
• (MY FAVORITE EASTER EGG)

• Bella Notte, the italian restaurant that Giselle, Robert, and MOrgan eat at is a tribute to the song from Lady and the Tramp

I think what I am trying to get across is that I love to use animated gifs on my blog and that Disney knows how to laugh at oneself in a way that still brings entertainment to people in a way that still instills the belief that Dreams Do Come True.

More Than Just a Kids Movie

Dreamworks needs to make another movie like Rise of the Guardians.

No, Rise of the Guardians is not the owl movie with 'Tom Buchanan' from The Great Gatsby voicing a flying bird.  I seriously underestimated the greatness that would come with this movie since I thought it was just going to be some rinky dink kids movie it turned out to be so entertaining and heartwarming.  In fact, I have watched it so many times and recommended to so many friends (above the age of 12 years old) with not a single one coming back disappointed.

Rise of the Guardians is the story of the Guardians of the world who protect the innocence of the children who have just recently teamed up with Jack Frost.  

Not only is the story just all around awesome, but I mean the casting is just as great.

• Jack Frost - Chris Pine
• Santa Claus - Alec Baldwin
• Easter Bunny - Hugh Jackman
• Tooth Fairy - Isla Fisher
• Pitch Black (Boogeyman) - Jude Law

And of course there is Sandy the Sand Man, the sweetest most heartwarming character I have seen in any movie in a long time (not counting Guido from Cars) who is not actually voiced by anyone but proves so much how Actions really do speak louder than words.

One of the main things that I LOVE about this movie was the ideals they made each guardian stand for.  

(*Kinda Spoilers but You Will Still Enjoy the Movie If You Read What's Next*)

I just have to mention this one specific scene where Santa Clause first introduces this idea of each of them having a "center" (what special thing they have inside of them that each guardian protects for children).  So Santa Claus stands for the WONDER and IMAGINATION of children that must be preserved which he represents through one of those Russian Matryoshka Dolls

as he states:

"[I have] big eyes very big. Because 

they are full of wonder! That is 

my center. It is what I was born 

with. Eyes that have always seen 

the wonder in everything! 

Eyes that see lights in the trees, 

and magic in the air!

This wonder is what I put into the 

world, and what I protect in 

children.

It is what makes me a Guardian."

Now if that quote doesn't make you wish it were December right at this moment and doesn't make you wish you were seven years old again on Christmas morning than you MUST watch this movie and bring joy in your life.

And if that quote did tickle your fancy than even more reason to go watch the movie.  

Trust me, you will not regret it 

NOW GO ON!

And FIND YOUR CENTER!