Practically Perfect in Every Way

I have no idea why I have not posted about this yet but Disney's Saving Mr. Banks is one of my top top top movies that YOU need to watch and I am always down to watch.  I have no idea why it was not nominated for more Academy Awards because it is Awesome! Not just because it's Disney and not just because Tom Hanks plays WALT DISNEY ...but it definitely helps

So for those of you that don't know first off, Saving Mr. Banks is based on the process Walt Disney went through to convince P.L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins (played by the lovely and amazing Emma Thompson), to get the rights to make the movie.. drum roll please... Mary Poppins!

As tale comes to tell as portrayed in the movie, P.L. Travers was not very easy to convince and she had to have it HER WAY in making the film adaptation OR ELSE NO RIGHTS, but because Walt too was a stubborn man and would LOVE to have Mary Poppins join his ensemble of characters he considers to be his family, the conflict between the two gets to be pretty good as Mrs. Travers just about shuts down every idea they have while making the movie.

You can imagine how bad THIS LINE is when creating the movie adaptation because of a certain other word that is so iconic in Mary Poppins ... Spoiler Alert...it's Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Emma Thompson KILLS IT as P.L. Travers and you basically wanna give her a piece of your mind throughout the entire movie as she rips apart just about every song they come up with, every detail in the script, and what seems to be every remaining detail in the story.  Did you know she did not even want there to be any hint of attraction between Mary Poppins and Bert?

Please, those two are perfect for each ... practically perfect in every way

But the movie is not just some Disney movie with a bunch of sing-along-songs throughout and dancing animals (that ends up being in Mary Poppins, duh), this movie is actually a drama with A LOT of depth and emotion which is probably why I love it so much (I like those types of movies)

I mean just LOOK at the movie poster! You just know the movie is gonna be good and magical and everything everybody needs and would enjoy so you need to go along now and watch the movie.

Furthermore, I wanna talk a bit more about Mary Poppins.   I made my roommate watch Saving Mr. Banks a few days before my birthday and he liked it a lot too and so did my other friend and it just reassured me that the movie is great... but I mean, even if they didn't like it I still would have loved it because it is good and no one can tell me otherwise.  Anyway, for my birthday, he got me the original book version of Mary Poppins

I read the book ASAP and thought it was a lot of fun and definitely an easy read, you should go read it.  Like really, if you can read my posts, the book is gonna be a piece of cake.  The book is however very different from the movie, whether or not that was what Walt wanted or what, I like both definitely.  They're both different but they are both pleasing, enjoyable, and can teach you a lot while having a lot of fun.

Now my apartment-mates and I have been itching to rewatch Mary Poppins and basically complete the tri-fecta of Mary Poppins goodness.  Book, Movie, and Movie is great and just about as perfect as Mary Poppins ... but not completely ..

(Now you understand the title of this post?)

But yea, so whether you want to relive your childhood (Watch Mary Poppins), watch a good drama with a great cast and good humor (Watch Saving Mr. Banks), or have a good easy read that anyone in your family could enjoy (Read Mary Poppins), Mary Poppins can be there for you at any time of the day at any time of the year.

Any of those three are really just as sweet as a spoonful of sugar

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Not So Precious but Not So Bad

So if any of you remember one of my earlier posts or if any of you have checked out my tabs (Just Add Popcorn), it has been my goal to watch all 250 movies from IMDBs list of top 250 movies of all time.  I have been trudging through very slowly and when I can I burn through a movie and happily cross it off my list.

One of those movies... or actually, four of the movies on the list... are the three Lord of the Rings Trilogy movies as well as The Hobbit (the first one so far).  I mean, of course they were on the list after so many Oscar nominations and wins but admittedly I had not sen any of the movies.  NOW HOLD ON DON'T FREAK OUT! 

(this is a LOTR representation of how people usually react when I would say I had not seen any of the movies ... me being the elf lady)

I finally watched all four of them and surprisingly enjoyed them.  We went up to Lake Tahoe during my Winter Break and while we were there I burned through the first two and then watched the third one once I got back only to end up watching The Hobbit the following night.

Anyway, the main point of my blog post is that I think people should actually give the movies a chance.  A big reason I was very hesitant to watch any of them was because I found them to be geeky, weird, and dumb.  And I apologize.  The second one was actually my favorite one too I should add! Even though Gollum was in it who as a kid scared the begeezus out of me and still grosses me out (I feel like he is just cold and clammy and ew)

Ew

But essentially I gave in, realized I would eventually have to watch them since they are on the list and fully enjoyed then.  So I guess all I am trying to say in this somewhat short post is that no matter how weird or "not your type of movie" a movie may seem, you should give it a shot ... at least if they have good ratings.

No matter how out there they may seem...

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

Just Look At It This Way

So far I have been pretty good in crossing off movies off of my list of 250 movies to watch in my 'Just Add Popcorn' and the latest movie I saw was Life is Beautiful.

HOLY COW EVERYONE

That movie was amazing.  Like seriously.  It is on Netflix.  And if you do not have Netflix, you HAVE to find a way to watch this movie.  It's a foreign film from 1997 that was nominated for 7 Academy Awards and won 3 of them including Best Actor in a Leading Role for Roberto Benigni, Best Foreign Film, and Best Music Score.

The movie was incredible and made me feel so many emotions it was not okay at all.  It is a World War II Concentration Camp in Berlin type movie... except for not.  It was like no Holocaust movie I had ever seen and because it was so different and heartwarming it instantly became one of my new favorite movies.  

To put it into perspective, the day before I watched The Pianist and was ready to just die from the stress and so the next day when I started watching Life is Beautiful I was expecting death and tears and blood and me crying in my room but instead I felt really good from this movie.  The beginning part of the movie even had me look up on IMDB the genre of the movie because I was doubting whether it was a drama or a comedy.

Like y'all do not even understand, even finding this gif I just smiled remembering the sweet lovable character of Guido.

Also the movie reminded me of an awesome story that one of my high school teachers once told us all.

HERE READ THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU WILL WATCH THE MOVIE FROM THIS STORY

"There were two men in a hospital room for two different types of symptoms.  One man's bed where he lay was by the window and he could sit up unlike the other man who was closer to the door and he could only lay flat due to his condition.  Everyday the man by the window would tell the other man about the beautiful sights of a park across the street from the hospital and of families walking around and having a good time.  The descriptions would amuse the man without the view but it also made him jealous that he could not see outside the window.  One day, the man with the bed by the window saw a parade and told the other man of all the smiles, colors, and happiness he could see and this enlightened the other man, but still made him more jealous.  The next day, the man by the window could not breathe and could not reach his remote to call the nurse.  The other man saw this but did not act upon this.  The man by the window passed away that day and as they moved his body, the man without the view asked the nurse if she could move his bed to be by the window.  She gladly moved his bed and left.  The man was extremely happy that he could finally see something else besides the room he has been in for many days now.  He somehow found the strength to lift himself.  When he looked out the window however, all he saw was a massive brick wall from the building beside the hospital."

I have always loved that story and all I could think about while watching Life is Beautiful was this story and how all it takes to make someone else happy is to change their focus from what it is making them depressed and keep them dreaming for more.  To change someone's perspective is a selfless act I wish one day I could do for someone else just as Guido and the man in the story did for someone else.

September Can be Spooky Too

It may still be September but as soon as I saw that the pumpkin spice latte was back in Starbucks, I have basically decided it is time to get into the Halloween Season!  Pumpkin flavored everything, orange leaves (in pictures, none outside where I live really), and watching Classic October Halloweeny movies!

[I have yet to see my neighborhood look like this]

Typically this includes The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown Movies (Classics and you know it), and a bunch more!  But this year I found another one that I think needs a little more appreciation.  Mockingbird Lane is what I am talking about.

I first heard about it when I was on the Studio Tour at Universal Studios and had heard about an upcoming series.  1313 Mockingbird Lane was to be the home of a remake family of Munsters.

[Paul from the past took this photo on the tour in case Future Paul liked Mockingbird Lane and it turns out, Past-Paul was right!]

Mockingbird Lane was supposed to be a series picked up starting last fall but was found to lack enough potential to be a compelling enough series but not due to it being sucky, instead they turned it into a Halloween Special on NBC.  I did not watch it last fall when it premiered and instead watched it last weekend.  I actually enjoyed it even if it was only 40 minutes long and found it to be a cute family Halloween thing to watch that I would not mind keeping as a September/October tradition.

The special had Jerry O'Connell as Herman Munster (the Frankenstein Dad) married to Portia de Rossi (the Vampiress Mom) whose Dracula Dad/Grampa was played by Eddie Izzard and whose "normal" niece is played by Charity Wakefield. 

Above is the son of 'Frankenstein' and the sexy vampiress of this show is Mason Cook who is going through some changes of his own as he deals with becoming a werewolf... without knowing that he is the werewolf wreaking havoc on the innocent (not much of a spoiler that's how the show starts).  

In terms of the characters, the Dracula thing was a little over the top for me...

... but looking back I think it was more playful and meant to be over the top due to it being for families and kids more than being a horror version of the Munsters.  I mean, I never saw the Munsters original series but I am sure that this show did it justice in portraying the family the way they did as they took up an abandoned home originally set to be destroyed due to a homicidal past...not the house killing people, but the people in it ... hopefully you got that.

Anyway, in case you were interested in watching it here is the link to the NBC website 

http://www.nbc.com/mockingbird-lane/video/mockingbird-lane/n29651/

and if that does not work I am sorry but I am sure you have other ways of finding a way to watch if you really wanted to.  Personally I think it was a good way to kick off the Halloween Season and start dreaming of packing in candy.

HAPPY ALMOST MONTH OF HALLOWEEN!

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Just Add Popcorn

Although in my info at the top it only says that "I watch movies" I really need to emphasize just how much I love movies.  I never really realized it until this past year I think.  I don't really know what it is about movies either that attracts me to them.  Possibly because I wonder what it is I would do in such situations whether it be fiction or not, or maybe because I can't believe someone was able to come up with such a storyline just from inspiration/imagination or that something like this actually happened in history and was so greatly portrayed in a movie.

Also, I tend to make the effort to memorize the names of actors and actresses and am always the guy my friends ask when they wonder "where have I seen that person before?" as we watch a movie or TV show.  IMDB is one of my favorite websites (something I have never heard anyone else say unfortunately) because that's where I find the names and filmographies of all these actors and actresses. ALSO! They actually post a lot of information about upcoming movies, movie roles, and other movie crap that I love.

IMDB has also given me the Top 250 Movies of All Time which if you go into my tab of 'JUST ADD POPCORN' at the top, you can see that it is my goal to watch all of them (I know the list will be updated but for now I am going to complete the list of movies from August 2013).

The list of movies has a bunch of cult classics and oldies I have been meaning to watch for a long time so I'm excited to finally get to watch them instead of just saying "I've been meaning to watch it".  Also my roommate is a big movie buff too and my friends love a lot of the movies on the list so watching these movies with friends will be even more fun than just watching it to cross it off the list.

At the end of the list of 250 movies though I should note that I added some movies I recommend you watch that for some reason did not make it on the list from IMDB but I find to be great.  A bunch of them were recommended to me from friends or family and some others were movies I watched with people I care a lot about recently.

Seriously though, I really recommend going out to watch a movie with some people by the way.  I have a few friends who don't like watching movies at the movie theatre because they find it antisocial or something but my parents and I started a tradition late this summer where every Sunday night we would watch a movie and I  LOVED IT.  It was a lot of fun watching some new movies I hadn't seen and going to the movie theatre with my parents was fun too.  Especially since I am leaving to go back to college, I really liked that for sure, there was an afternoon in the week dedicated to family time.

So whether it be watching movies every Sunday or grabbing breakfast every other week, or even just making that phone call you push aside so often... Call or hang out with your parents (or guardians/role models/whomever you want) and dedicate some time to those who matter.

[No matter how you may feel about your family members, they are family... 

they will always be waiting for you and never stop loving you]

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!