choosing my passion

I recently had an epiphany that seems to be changing my life… or rather, changing my pop culture landscape. I was sitting in the cinema waiting for the start of Julie & Julia and watching the trailer for The Time Traveler’s Wife when it hit me: both were books I always intended to read [...]

SUNSHINE CLEANING

DVD viewing 
 
When you see as many high-octane, under-developed films as I do, it’s easy to be surprised when a truly great story comes your way. In fact, I am often overwhelmed at the artistry of a well-told film, almost shocked by the fullness of plot and character. The fact that so many of these wonderful [...]

THE THING CALLED LOVE

Most of my favorite films remain so because I am emotionally attached to them. This is the key reason I collect movies, knowing that I will want to revisit them again and again throughout my life in hopes of recapturing the feelings I had on first viewing. I may not watch a film for five [...]

Summer Film Series – Vol. 7, No. 5: NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM – BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN

August 18, 2009 at Movies 10 in Plano, Texas 
 
I am a die-hard fan of Night at the Museum, so the decision to take another crazy ride with those living exhibits was the simplest movie decision ever. The fact that I visited Washington, D.C., once upon a time only served to make the film all the [...]

Summer Film Series – Vol. 7, No. 4: JULIE & JULIA

August 8, 2009 at Movies 14, McKinney, Texas 
 
The more I view the work of Meryl Streep, the more I am convinced that she is our greatest living actress. Her talents are undeniable, but in recent years, as she enjoys an unexpected phase of her career, she has become larger than life. She portrays characters with [...]

the legacy of John Hughes

It should come as no surprise that director/writer/producer John Hughes is hugely responsible for my being a pop culture junkie. His biggest films were staples of my teen years, the first movies I saw that seemed to speak to and about my generation. And Hughes introduced me to actors who have remained favorites throughout my [...]

HIDE

DVD viewing 
 
While standing in a lobby waiting to see Pulp Fiction back in 1994, a friend’s husband said to me, “You actually liked Reservoir Dogs? I’ve never known a girl who liked a Quentin Tarantino film. They usually find them too gruesome.” I simply smiled and said, “I’m not like most girls.” This has been [...]

Summer Film Series – Vol. 7, No. 3: PUBLIC ENEMIES

July 5, 2009, at Movies 14 in McKinney, Texas  
At this point I’m a full-fledged fan of both Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, so the idea of both starring in one film — and a gangster film set in my beloved Chicago, no less — really just sealed the deal for me with regard to Public [...]

Summer Film Series – Vol. 7, No. 2: UP

June 25, 2009 at Movies 14 in McKinney, Texas

When the first trailer appeared for Pixar’s latest film, UP, my reaction was, “Um… no.” I was thoroughly disappointed in the concept, despite the beauty of the film itself. A story about a cranky old man and his balloon-powered flying house didn’t have appeal. It seemed… weird. [...]

Summer Film Series – Vol. 7, No. 1: TERMINATOR SALVATION

June 22, 2009 at Movies 14 in McKinney, Texas

You might think I’ve always been a fan of the Terminator films, given my love of sci-fi and action movies, but the truth is that I didn’t actually realize that love until the last decade or so. Before that I enjoyed science fiction like Star Wars and [...]

5 things I love this week

May 31 – June 6, 2009 
1. This quote by Stephen R. Covey: “We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey.”  
2. Water’s Edge 2009 Summer Bash, and the fact that you’re never too old for a slip-n-slide. (This is my beloved pastor in the video!)  
3. [...]

5 things I love this week

May 17-23, 2009 
1. Frightened, a post by Karen Russell about stepping out of her comfort zone and documenting the process. Beyond the poignant photograph at the conclusion of her story, I love how she so completely and fully expresses my own thoughts and struggles in the exact same area. This post made me laugh and [...]

THE WRESTLER

DVD viewing  I’m not sure what I expected from The Wrestler, but I knew that Mickey Rourke’s performance was central to the film’s success and acclaim. I knew very little about the premise other than it being the story of a professional wrestler whose heyday was in the ’80s but he was still making some money [...]

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (2008)

DVD viewing  I read no good reviews for the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, yet I always intended to see it anyway. Critical opinion is rarely a determinant of my viewing habits, and I generally like movies that others find ridiculous and a waste of time. In the case of this remake, I’m [...]

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

DVD viewing

It is not always the case with an Academy Award that the most popular (i.e. chosen) film is also the very best film. And most of the time, my own favorite films are not the best films I see throughout a given year. But occasionally the Best Picture Oscar winner will truly be the [...]

5 things I love this week

March 29 – April 4, 2009 
1. World Autism Awareness Day.This is a subject so close to my own heart and the hearts of my family, and it is so important to learn just what autism is and how we can help. When autism was first mentioned to us, I immediately dismissed it as not pertaining [...]

QUANTUM OF SOLACE

DVD viewing 
 
In describing Daniel Craig in this latest 007 offering, I cannot help but remark, “This ain’t your daddy’s Bond.” Which is exactly the reason I’ve come to love the current Bond films — Craig is so very different, so modern in his take on the British agent, and yet he retains the core of [...]

4 things I loved (last) week…

… plus one I absolutely did not!
March 22-28, 2009
1. this backyard patio.

If I was an outside kind of girl, this would be my permanent spot. Alas, I’m not, and so I visit it vicariously. But it looks comfy, no? via desiretoinspire, from Mae Brunken Design  
2. Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds This character, darling that [...]

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

DVD viewing

Rachel Getting Married has been on my list of films to see since I first read about it last fall. That it’s an “indie” means there are not many chances for it to appear in my small town, and I never made it to Dallas when it was playing in the cinema there. With [...]

5 things I love this week

March 15-21, 2009
1. This listmaker’s dream. There’s no end to the amount of fun I can have on this forum, and I’m so excited to have a super-organized way to keep up with all the ongoing stuff in my head!
 
2. Luke (and his formidable mom, Margie) from The Amazing Race.
Much ado was made at [...]