AFI Movie Date Night #18

Giant starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean was tonight's viewing. This 1956 film was #82 on the list. I'm not sure why it has such hoopla, but it's probably because of Dean. I didn't really care for either of the male leads performances and I thought Taylor was just ok. Maybe this long film was welcomed in the 50's but I thought this long film was mostly boring! B-.

After reading more about the movie, I realized I didn't notice that was Dennis Hopper! It looks like I'll see him in Rebel Without A Cause also.

AFI Movie Date Night #17

Tonight was Platoon, the Oscar winner from 1986 and #83 on the AFI list. Oliver Stone's anti-war film starred Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe and a bunch of others that were probably just getting their starts before becoming famous. Best scene is Willem Dafoe's iconic scene that graces the cover. And by the end of the film, you'll think war is stupid too! B+.

AFI Movie Date Night #16

We waited until Saturday to see Fargo (#84 on the AFI list), but truthfully, I think we could have waited longer. I'm trying to remember why this movie was so funny the first time around. It has a few funny moments but mostly it's kind of annoying. Maybe it was just easier to laugh at anything back then.

Weekend Viewing

Friday:
Duck Soup (1933) - AFI pick
The Handmaid's Tale (1990)
Children of Men (2006) - good

Saturday:
Final Destination (2000)
Final Destination 2 (2003)
Final Destination 3 (2006)

Sunday:
Unlocking DaVinci's Code (2004)
and associated video (need to grab title)
Gattaca (1997)
Evolution (2001)

AFI Movie Date Night #15

Tonight was Duck Soup, said to be the best of The Marx Brothers movies. This 1933 classic is #85 on the AFI list. I think I expected it to be funnier (or maybe I remember it as being funnier), but mostly I didn't laugh too much. Maybe my funny bone is getting old. Still, it's a good movie of the period.

AFI Movie Date Night #14

Mutiny on the Bounty was the selection today, the best picture winner of 1935 and #86 on the AFI list. This is the only film to boast having 3 of it's stars nominated for best actor (none won though). It's a great film from the period. Though I must admit I might remeber it differently because I thought Bligh got more punishment.

AFI Movie Date Night #13

Frankenstein, the 1931 classic monster movie with Boris Karloff as the Monster was our movie this day. This one deserves its ranking on the AFI list (#87) because of its influence on the rest of the genre. It is a great movie for its time and I don't think any remake version has surpassed it.

We decided to watch all 5 of the Frankenstein movies on The Legacy Collection. We've already watched the second one - Bride of Frankenstein - and still have Son of Frankenstein, Ghost of Frankenstein and House of Frankenstein to go.

AFI Movie Date Night #12

It was Easy Rider tonight (#88), which is probably the best known motorcycle road movie of all time. This 1969 movie starred Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper (who also directed it) as the two friends who take the motorcycle trip. It also had supporting roles from Jack Nicholson, Karen Black and Toni Basil.

It's a good movie for its time and probably helped the young people of the culture identify with the movie. And the soundtrack was very memorable.

AFI Movie Date Night #11

Tonight was the 1970 best picture winner Patton starring George C. Scott and Karl Malden, number 89 on the list. He was a brilliant general who sometimes got in trouble for his overzealousness, who hated cowards and quitters. He didn't care if his men liked him or not, just that they would follow him. I thought it was a pretty good war biopic.

AFI Movie Date Night #10

We watched The Jazz Singer, the landmark 1927 film that had the first spoken words in a movie, number 90 on the list. I think I was expecting more talking because I was disappointed at how much of the movie was still a silent film. But it probably was a big deal back then. I don't think it was good enough to spring for the 3 disc collection (unless it comes down under $15), but I wouldn't mind a single cheap disc as it is one of the few AFI that I don't own on DVD.

Music Everywhere

The AFI pick was The Jazz Singer (1927).
It was mostly a silent movie with musical numbers.
I'll let Randy post more about it later.
We decided to stay with the music theme.

Walk the Line (2005) about Johnny Cash.
I was pleasantly surprised at liking this movie.
Johnny Cash was played by Joaquin Phoenix.
June Carter was played by Reese Witherspoon.
They both performed all the songs themselves.

Chicago (2002) is a great contemporary musical.
While it is a remake the action onscreen was ALIVE.
As with all good musicals it was colorful and energetic.
It was interesting to see well known stars singing and dancing:
Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, and Richard Gere.
Christine Baranski plays the reporter Mary Sunshine.
Queen Latifah plays Matron Mama Morton.

AFI Movie Date Night #9

Tonight was My Fair Lady, the 1964 Oscar winner and number #91 on the AFI list, starring Audrey Hepburn & Rex Harrison. It's the Pygmalion story, with the slow transformation of Hepburn's classless character into one of class by Harrison's linguist character. It was tough to like Harrison's scientifically detached character, but that was probably the intent. But overall, the film has its charms and wonderful songs to make it a delight for the whole family.

AFI Movie Date Night #8

We watched A Place in the Sun, #92 on the AFI list, starring Mongomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor and Shelley Winters. It was said to be a landmark film but I'm not sure why. Maybe part of the reason was that Shelley Winters played against type for the first time in her career. (It took me a little while to recognize her character.) I can't really say I liked this movie too much as it seemed quite depressing.

AFI Movie Date NIght #7

We watched The Apartment, the Best Picture winner of 1960 and #93 on the list. (We skipped over Goodfellas as I'll have to watch that solo - Cathy doesn't want to deal with the vulgarity!) I thought it was ok. It starred Jack Lemmon as the renter of said apartment with Fred MacMurray as a boss who wanted to borrow the apartment so he could take Shirley MacLaine there. But Lemmon is falling for MacLaine. It's listed as a comedy but we found it had more drama than comedy, especially from the midway point.

We wondered what other pictures were up for Best picture. They were "The Alamo", "Elmer Gantry", "Sons and Lovers", "The Sundowners". Some notable ones not nominated that year were Psycho and Spartacus! Some say The Apartment won because Some Like It Hot didn't win the year before (both directed by Billy Wilder).

Serious Sunday #2

We watched a couple of serious movies.
Since it was the Academy Awards day
we also watched a previous Oscar winner.

Paper Clips - amazing documentary *WOW*
It has to do with a school studying the holocaust.
Since it was hard to visualize the 6 MILLION that died.
They decided to collect paper clips which was symbolic.
I strongly recommend this documentary to others.
I am not big into documentaries but this one is great!
Their Paper Clip Project created a Holocaust Memorial.

The Second Chance starring Michael W Smith
I thought this was a great movie with a great message.
I will let each person decide for themselves.

Crash - 2005 best picture Oscar
My girl, Sandra Bullock, is in it!
The same people keep "crashing" into each other.
Its a six degrees of separation concept ...
People are interrelated in each other's lives.

Serious Sunday

We decided to watch some more serious movies today.
We are thinking we may continue to do that on Sundays.
Maybe movies about actual events and maybe religious.

Come to the Stable (1949)
It was about two nuns from France who came to America.
They are determined to build a children's hospital.
They have great faith and friends to help.
It was written by Clare Boothe Luce.

Schindler's List (1993) *** WOW ***
This was a first time watch for both of us.
It was really good and seemed realistic to me.
There were disturbing scenes but not sensationalized.
It was a good follow up movie to seeing Freedom Writers.

I found this actual copy of Schindler's List.
Schindler and his wife Emilie are both individually
included in the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations.
Steven Spielberg was the director and all his royalties/residuals
go to Shoah Foundation which preserves history of genocide.

The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)
I had seen this when young at my grandmother's house.
Three children living outside Fatima claim to see a lady in a cloud.
It is presumed to be the Blessed Mary who wants to use them.
It is based on actual events that occurred in the summer of 1917.

Sister Lucia was the only surviving visionary.
On February 13, 2008 the process towards sainthood for her began.
Francisco and Jacinta were declared venerable and then blessed.
Other associated links at wikipedia follow:
Our Lady of Fatima, Miracle of the Sun, Three Secrets of Fatima

AFI Movie Date Night #6

Pulp Fiction (#95) was tonight's movie and Cathy didn't make it through the opening scenes. I may have to agree with her about the necessity of the excessive profanity. Even though the process of the storytelling is ingenious, I wonder if anyone would have cared about this movie if it would have gotten a XX rating for it's excessive profanity and violence. But our society's (and the decreasing standards relating to "censorship") allowance of such excessive profanity puts this film on the AFI list.

I do admit that the film has many memorable moments. It might have been nice to see such moments without the excessive profanity. When we get to The Godfather Part II, we'll see how much profanity they needed to get their point across.

AFI Movie Date Night #5

Tonight's movie was #96 on the list, The Searchers starring John Wayne. This movie was the biggest jumper between the two lists, jumping up to #12 on the 2007 list. After viewing it, I'm not sure why it took such a jump. I have heard that this one is considered the best of director John Ford's movies. Sure it's got some great moments, some great views, perfect directing, decent acting from the Duke but I wouldn't think of it as within the top 20 movies ever made. I would keep it within the Top 100 though.

I didn't really like the ending though. I think it was unrealistic and therefore, it sold out.

AFI Movie Date Night #4

Tonight was Bringing Up Baby (#97), starring Katharine Hepburn & Cary Grant. It's known as one of the best screwball comedies of all time. I can't remember if I'd seen it before but this time I really didn't enjoy it. Maybe it's because I'm not used to seeing Miss Hepburn in such a dingbatty role, but I found her character to be quite annoying. I didn't think much of Cary Grant's performance either. Sure, there are quite a few laughs but there's also quite a few "roll your eyes" moments as well.

AFI Movie Date Night #3

Tonight we watched Unforgiven (#98 on AFI Top 100), the best picture Oscar winner from 1992. It's billed as the best western in the past 20 years. It starred Clint Eastwood (who won the Oscar for best director), Gene Hackman (Oscar winner for best supporting actor), Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris. It's all about "pullin' a trigger". The theme about how hard it is to kill a man, that it takes a certain coldness of heart to be able to do it, comes through pretty well. And Hackman's brutality as the law figure who doesn't want any gunman in his town causing trouble can cause you to flinch at the brutalness of it.

It's an honest look at what it meant to kill a man in the old west. B+.