Wrapping Up 2023's Selections from the Bucket List

 As always - my apologies for not updating sooner. I haven't had as much time to watch movies as I would like. And I hate doing entries for only one film - so I wait until I have a few to add. We'll finish off 2023 with 6 films. At this count I have watched 71 of the 100 movies on the list (keeping in mind two entries are actually trilogies - so I have watched 73 of 102 officially). Only 29 more to go! I'm adding these 6 in order of date watched.

Leon: The Professional - I actually enjoyed this one - except for Natalie Portman's character. I get that it was part of the film, but I really didn't like her. The cinematography was really good so I can fully appreciate why this movie made the bucket list. Good chance I would watch this again at some point in the future. Overall grade: B+ / A-

The Great Dictator - This one was not easy to obtain (and in fact I actually ended up acquiring a Blu-Ray player because I could only find a Blu-Ray version). Of the remaining films on the list, I actually looked forward to watching it - it has a pretty good reputation. I was not disappointed. I found myself thoroughly amused by the similarities to a certain real-life dictator. I'm not overly familiar with the work of Charlie Chaplin, but I have liked the few things I have seen. Overall grade: A

The Departed - Given the number of F-bombs dropped in this movie, I am really surprised that Samuel L. Jackson didn't have a cameo (not that he would have fit in with the plot of the movie). There was no absence of stars in this movie. Overall it was pretty good - except for a bit of a rambling plot. Probably could have been a little bit shorter without truly impacting the story. Overall grade: B

Alien - Yes, you are probably surprised I have not watched this movie until recently. Keep in mind that Sci-fi is not my preferred genre when it comes to movies. With that said - I had no preconceived notions against that kept me from watching it. I factor in the fact that it was made in 1979 when reviewing because it was actually pretty blah for me as far as Sci-fi goes. Special effects simply weren't what we have today. With that said, I'm left with zero desire to watch it again or any of the sequels that it has spawned. Overall grade: C

Gladiator - Another one I probably should have seen a long time ago but never got around to watching. I'm glad this one was actually on the list because I enjoyed it for the most part. Again, like numerous other films, it probably could have been shorter without sacrificing the key points of the story. Seeing Joaquin Phoenix in this role reminds me of his versatility as an actor. I don't see him playing the same roles over and over again. I may not like everything he does, but overall I find many of his movies pretty good. As for Russell Crowe - he was way better in this than in Les Miserables (thank God he didn't have to sing in this one). Overall grade: A-

Trainspotting - I put this one in a similar category as Snatch from the previous entry. For sure there were parts that amused me - but for the most part I had a hard time following the overall story. I'm sure the Scottish accents played a significant part in adding to my confusion. At the end of the movie I can't say I really knew what the point of the movie was...but I wouldn't say that it was terrible. I like Ewan McGregor - so that certainly helped. Will I watch it again? Maybe after my trip to Scotland next year when I have had more exposure to the accent. Overall grade: C

There you have it - the last 6 movies of 2023. I'm slowly making my way through the list. There are a lot more spaces that have been scratched off than note so I have made progress since starting the challenge - even if it is taking me longer than I hoped.

Last of 2022 and First Movies of 2023

 I really slacked off on watching movies from the bucket list challenge during the latter half of 2022. From July onward I only managed one. I added two more so far during January of 2023. I've had a lot going on and so I'm lucky to be able to keep up with the TV shows I have on my DVR. I'll try to do better. With that said, here are the brief reviews of the three most recent additions to the completed list.

Her: Kind of a futuristic sort of look at what AI devices have the potential of becoming in the future. Not gonna lie...it was more than a little creepy. Joaquin Phoenix plays a guy who ends up getting into a "relationship" with his virtual assistant (voiced by Scarlet Johansson). Phoenix's character kind of reminded me of a creepier version of Leonard from "The Big Bang Theory" (picture Leonard with a 70s style porn mustache). It wasn't a horrible movie, but I highly doubt it was a film I would have ever watched on my own... and I doubt I will ever watch it again. Overall grade: C-

Drive: Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stunt driver by day and a getaway driver for criminals by night. The driving skills are somewhat impressive, but overall the movie had a tendency to wander away from the central plot. The resolution of the conflict at the end wasn't exactly clear...I'm not exactly sure what happened to Gosling's character. I found myself losing focus quite easily. Maybe if I watched it again and paid very close attention I would understand it better, however, even the outline of the story on the DVD insert doesn't compel me to want to do that. Overall grade C-

Snatch: Although this was directed by Guy Ritchie, it really had a Quentin Tarantino vibe to it (albeit with significantly less gratuitous violence). Lots of characters, whose importance to the overall story wasn't clear combined with a storyline that had lots of subplots made it kind of hard to follow. Brad Pitt's character was funny and I also liked Dennis Farina in his role. I could see myself watching this one again, just to see if it makes more sense the second time. Overall grade B-

And there you have it. Again my apologies for the long delay between posts. I watched Her quite awhile ago, but wanted to wait until I had more than one movie to review before posting. I'll be back soon with a few more (hopefully).

Top Gun: Maverick (finally)

 In a departure from the reviews of movies from my bucket list I wanted to take the time to write a short review of the long awaited and highly anticipated Top Gun sequel. They've been talking about releasing this movie since 2020, I think, but it kept getting delayed. Nevertheless it was definitely worth the wait. Tom Cruise returned as Lieutenant Pete Mitchell, a.k.a. Maverick. I won't give too many details as I don't want to spoil it for anyone who has yet to see it. Maverick is recruited by his longtime friend Iceman (Val Kilmer) to train a new class of Top Gun pilots for what was billed as a suicide mission. In the new Top Gun group is the son of Maverick's deceased co-pilot Goose. The make-up/costume directors/casting directors did one heck of a job selling this actor as Goose's son (down to his rousing rendition of "Great Balls of Fire" on the piano at the bar). It was briefly explained why Goose's widow (played by Meg Ryan in the original) did not appear in the film (not going to spoil it). I heard that a lot of people were upset that Ryan was not tapped to reprise her role, but I honestly don't think she would have added much to the storyline. Also notably missing from a return appearance was Charlie (played by Kelly McGillis). But as with Ryan, I don't think a return by Charlie would have served any real purpose. Sometimes it is better to leave original characters out of a sequel than force them into a storyline where they do not really belong. Personally I applaud the writers for not forcing these characters into the plot. It helped to make the story more relevant to the modern era. But...if for some reason you have been living under a rock for the past 30+ years and never saw the original Top Gun it is an absolute must see before watching Maverick. There are too many references from the original that would confuse someone who has not seen it. With that said, for those who have seen Top Gun and at least enjoyed it I highly recommend Top Gun: Maverick. Overall rating: A+++

Memorial Day 2022: Movie Marathon Continued

 I know I am a bit delayed in writing up the last of the movies from the weekend movie marathon. Saturday I watched 4 movies, but I only managed to watch 1 more the rest of the weekend for a total of 7 over 3 days. Here are the last 5 from the bucket list in the order viewed.

Up:  The last of the animated films on the bucket list. I'll admit to liking this one more than its predecessors. However, it was still a bit too long for my taste (for an animated film) and I found my attention fading a little over halfway through. I'm not sure how kids with short attention spans managed to watch the entire movie. Overall rating: B

Memento:  It seems the further I progress through the list the more bizarre some of the films are. I kind of thought of this as a very dark, revenge oriented version of 50 First Dates with Adam Sandler. Odd would be something of an understatement. To be honest, I'm not sure I even remembered the end of the movie. Overall rating: C-

Blade Runner:  Here's another film that had a very futuristic view of Los Angeles (if I recall it is set in about 2017 or 2018). Interesting how filmmakers of the 80s and 90s thought L.A. in the 21st century would appear. Premise was somewhat intriguing, but still the movie was at times very hard to follow. Harrison Ford was, as always, a good leading man here. Overall rating: C

Reservoir Dogs: Ah, my old friend Quentin Tarantino (sarcasm). If I have learned one thing from all of the Tarantino films I have subjected myself to over the years it is that one should expect over-the-top violence and gore that is not entirely necessary to the telling of the story. However, I will say that this movie is one of his better ones in my humble opinion. Given the subject matter of the movie, the violence (while somewhat exaggerated) was at least logical. Overall rating: B- (very high for a Tarantino flick).

The Prestige:  The first plus to this film is that it stars Hugh Jackman. It was all about two magicians who were friends/partners turned bitter rivals. The other leading man was played by Christian Bale (who personally I do not much care for). Over all the story was engaging and at least kept my attention for the better majority. The surprise casting was David Bowie as Nikola Tesla and he did a phenomenal job (nearly unrecognizable). Of these last five movies, this was far and away my favorite. Overall rating: A- (still a bit too long for a solid A).

2nd Annual Memorial Day Movie Marathon: 1st 2 nights Down

 It doesn't seem like it has already been a year since I officially started the bucket list challenge. So I started the weekend movie marathon a night early this year. Officially I watched three movies the 1st two nights, however, I realized (much to my chagrin) one of the movies I watched wasn't actually on the bucket list. I will still include the review after the other two.

The Big Lebowski: This wasn't entirely new to me with this viewing, however, I had not seen the whole film start to finish. I was pretty entertained, although there were a few parts that I felt could have been left out without sacrificing essential plot points. Jeff Bridges' character and John Goodman's character were hilarious. Overall I would give it a strong B+ rating. It would have gotten an A if not for the superfluous material that added unnecessary length to the movie. 

The Terminator: Here's another that probably surprises most people that I have not previously seen. There was no specific reasoning as to why...it just never occurred to me to watch it. I did see T2 not long after it was available on VHS. I have not, however, seen any of the subsequent Terminator movies. Of course it struck me as funny that the beginning of Terminator was set in Los Angeles in the year 2029. I always find it interesting to see how movies imagined the 2020s to be. The 80s aspects were great, especially Linda Hamilton's wardrobe. Towards the end of movie a question came to mind (upon seeing how difficult it was to "kill" the Terminator): who would win in a battle of evil killing machines -- the Terminator or a Dalek? Discuss amongst yourselves and/or leave a comment on the blog with your opinion. My overall rating for the movie was probably an A-. Due in large part to not being excessively long with unnecessary parts.

The BONUS ENTRY:

Inception: I have no idea why I was certain this was on the bucket list. Did not realize it was not until after I had finished watching and was trying to scratch it off the list. Well, this was certainly an interesting movie. I had a bit of trouble following the story, but I suppose that is not entirely uncommon. Generally speaking it was alright. Like several of the movies on the list I felt as though it could have been shorter without losing much in the way of important details. It does get bonus points for ending with a conclusion that wraps up with closure for the main character. I'm still not quite sure what exactly happened to his wife though. Perhaps I missed it. I'll leave it with an overall grade of C+.

Another From the Bucket List

 Yes, I know it has been awhile since I added anything to the blog. I've been kind of slacking off when it comes to watching movies. However, I do plan to have another movie marathon over Memorial Day weekend (and I've added several of the missing titles from the bucket list to my collection). So there should be plenty of reviews coming in the next week or so. Since my last entry I have only crossed one more film off the list. This will be quite a short entry since there is only one film being reviewed.

2001: A Space Odyssey: I had been warned in advance that this is somewhat of an odd movie. It seems that warning was more than justified. I wouldn't go so far as to say the movie was bad. But, it definitely could have been much shorter without losing anything essential to the plot. The soundtrack wasn't too bad, either. I can't say that I fully understood the movie (neither did the person I was watching it with). Given the excessive length of the movie I am not inclined to watch it again to see if it makes more sense the 2nd time around.

Ringing in 2022 with 4 More Titles off of the List

     Welcome to 2022! Hard to believe it's nearly the middle of February already. Since the beginning of the year I have managed to cross another 4 movies off of the bucket list. 2 movies were foreign language films with subtitles (a horrific feature for some people, but I actually don't mind them), 1 was an animated movie, and finally the last of the group was the lone anime film on the list. Away we go!

Amelie:  I was actually looking forward to seeing this one as I have heard good things about it. I found it somewhat odd, but there were parts that I found quite entertaining. I also improved a bit of my French vocabulary (bonus). I speak French at an intermediate level but I still need the subtitles to truly be able to follow the dialog. My television screen isn't the greatest for seeing the subtitles, but with my basic comprehension I kept up pretty well. Overall I'd rank it somewhere in the middle. Not an obvious classic but also not among the worst movies I have been subjected to. 

The Intouchables: Not to be confused with The Untouchables, this is another French language film. The subject matter was more serious than Amelie and the overall story is pretty good. If you like the rom-com genre, in some ways this movie reminds me of the more recent English language film Me Before You (based on a book). The Intouchables is based on a real-life story. I'd probably give this a solid B rating. For the most part I could keep up with the plot of the movie while managing the subtitles. Despite my fairly high grade, I'm not quite sure why this movie would make a 100 Movies to See before You Die type of list. Perhaps it's just that I expect movies on this type of list to be cinematic masterpieces with stories so captivating that you instantly know you've seen a classic. 

Toy Story: After this one, I think I only have one more animated film to subject myself to. I've already discussed my general dislike of the modern animated films (with relatively few exceptions). I get that Disney/Pixar is a powerhouse when it comes to animated movies. Given all the hype (and seemingly infinite sequels) for Toy Story I expected to be dazzled. Again I was disappointed. The overall storyline was just okay for me. I won't deny that for younger viewers (the target audience of Disney/Pixar) the story is relatable and probably entertaining. But 4 sequels? No, I don't get it. 

Spirited Away: If there was something I was looking forward to less than the animated movies on the list, it was the lone anime selection. To date I have never really been able to get into anime. It could be that the very first one I watched (back in my high school days) was probably one of the heaviest of the anime films: Akira. I've also seen Princess Mononoke (spelling?). The only anime I ever really enjoyed was the series Cowboy Bebop (and that was mainly because one of the characters was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi). Given all of my prior history with anime, I actually found myself kind of enjoying this one more than I thought I would. I still don't fully understand the genre and can have a hard time keeping up with the unusual storylines. But with Spirited Away I found myself wanting the main character to be successful in her quest to save her parents. 

That's all for tonight. Not sure what my next selections will be or when I'll make some time to cross a few more off of the list. Until next time!

The Christmas Edition

     Merry Christmas everyone! I mentioned in my last entry I was going to take a break from the bucket list to compile a list of some of my favorite Christmas movies. I'll start off by reviewing the criteria by which I decided what to include as a Christmas film. First, I am not including made for TV movies. To the best of my knowledge all of the films included below were released in the theaters. Second, I am not including films that just happen to take place at Christmas. This means I am not including films like Gremlins and Die Hard. There I said it...Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. Finally, the order in which I list the films is completely random and not an indication as to how much I liked or disliked it. If a film is not included (that is traditionally considered a Christmas movie), there are two likely explanations: either I haven't seen it or I completely forgot about it when I was compiling the list. And now on with the show!

A Christmas Story: Classic story about a little boy who wants nothing more than a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. Includes some classic lines and memorable scenes. I generally liked the movie, however, the cult fascination with it seems a bit much. I don't mind watching it once in awhile but multiple 24 hour marathons of it on television every year is a bit much. 

Home Alone: One of my favorites to be included on this list. I still enjoy watching it when it comes on television. Of course, certain aspects of the story remain questionable. How on earth did Kevin's parents not realize he was missing for as long as they did? I've been on trips (including international trips) with large groups of people and always seemed to know if someone was missing from the group as a whole. Putting those questionable details aside, I still really like the movie.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York: Like the original I really enjoy this movie...even if the script isn't all that different from the first one. This time they manage to get Kevin to the airport before he inexplicably manages to get lost and on an entirely different flight from his parents and extended family. These are the only two movies in this franchise that I have seen. I couldn't imagine any subsequent films needing to be made or being any good.

It's a Wonderful Life: What list of Christmas movies is complete without this classic? It has been a very long time since I have seen it and don't really recall many details. What I do know is that it has spawned a great number of imitations (both in movies and on television). For example, the soap opera The Young and the Restless is known for doing a Christmas episode nearly every year in which one of the main characters has an It's a Wonderful Life dream-like experience. It's this type of thing that ruins the original for me. 

The Santa Clause: Obviously an implausible plot, but still generally entertaining. Tim Allen was pretty funny as a father who accidentally kills Santa and therefore must become Santa going forward. Also resulted in a few sequels, none of which were as entertaining as the original.

Four Christmases: The tale of a couple who make the attempt to visit all four of their dysfunctional parents on one Christmas day. I enjoyed it because despite going to extremes about how each parent is dysfunctional, it very realistically chronicles the struggle of couples to visit multiple families during the holidays. Plus Reese Witherspoon is one of my favorites. Vince Vaughn was not his normal annoying character stereotype in this film. 

Bad Santa: As it has been a long time since I have actually watched this film, I don't really remember the details. With that said, I do remember Billy Bob Thornton being hilarious as a drunken mall Santa. Never did see the sequel...as with most sequels I figured it couldn't have been as good as the original.

The Family Stone: Sarah Jessica Parker plays an uptight Manhattan executive who agrees to celebrate Christmas with her boyfriend's family (a pretty dysfunctional family). Hilarity ensues as she goes overboard trying to impress his difficult mother. A few plot twists along the way kept the movie from falling into a predictable pattern. Overall, pretty good...and better still it hasn't resulted in unnecessary sequels. The end of the film does a great job of wrapping up all of the divergent stories and giving the audience closure.

The Holiday: Pretty sure I stumbled upon this one by accident, however, to quote Bob Ross it was a "happy little accident." I generally like Jack Black, Kate Winslet, and Jude Law in most movies. Even the presence of Cameron Diaz didn't detract. Also required no sequels because the end of the movie suggests how things turn out for all of the characters. 

Elf: A Will Farrell Christmas classic. It's been awhile since I have seen it so I don't really remember all of the specifics. Farrell was great in a movie that was something of a departure from some of his dumber offerings (probably because they didn't create roles for some of his usual co-stars). Nothing against Will Farrell in general, but I have a hard time watching some of his movies. 

Last Christmas: One of the most recent entries on this list...and the one I watched the most recently (just last weekend). I expected it to be pretty cheesy...but turns out I was wrong. Not only was the storyline somewhat entertaining, there was a twist in the plot I legitimately did not see coming. Also surprising was Emma Thompson's character. Normally she's kind of a stereotypical Brit...but here she played Emilia Clarke's over protective Eastern European mother (and quite convincingly). Also well done was the soundtrack of George Michael songs...not in a forced way. 

Love, Actually: If I were ranking these movies, I'd probably consider this my second favorite. Not a traditional Christmas movie, but rather a loose collection of separate stories (some of which intersect quite nicely). Set in London, the ensemble cast features a lot of big stars...Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, and Liam Neeson just to name a few. Definitely worth watching if you like any of these actors.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Although I wasn't really ranking these films, this is without a doubt my favorite Christmas movie. How could it not be? The extended Griswold family is together in one house (and an R.V.) and hilarity ensues. This is one film franchise where I enjoy (at least at some level) almost every movie included. Full of memorable quotes and the standard by which all over-the-top exterior Christmas light displays are now judged. It's one of the few Christmas movies I can watch multiple times and not be bored.

There you have it...my review of some of my favorite Christmas movies. Yes, there are several not included on here that I have not seen (some of which I'm sure y'all are wondering how it is I haven't seen at this point). Maybe next year I will try to watch some of the ones I have missed in order to update the list. If you have any suggestions for ones to watch feel free to leave it in the comments. Until later...

Four More Down...

     I know it's been a little while since I updated my progress on the bucket list. Work has kept me pretty busy and so I've been pretty tired on the weekends. Since the last update I have managed to scratch another four films off of the list. Without further ado here are my reviews of those those films.

Halloween (the original): I'm not much for horror movies. It's not that I get scared easily...I just generally find they are overly predictable and I tend to get annoyed with the characters not being able to sense that they are in danger. Unfortunately the bucket list has a few horror films on it that I will have to subject myself to if I want to complete the challenge. I expected Halloween to be far more gruesome than it actually was. I'm sure it scared plenty of people when it first came out in the 70s...but today it really falls flat. It's one of the worst offenders when it comes to being predictable. It was pretty obvious when Michael was about to strike. I'm fairly sure I'll be able to resist the numerous sequels...although I was admittedly intrigued by the trailers for the one that came out earlier this year. Not enough to pay money to watch it though.

Four Weddings and a Funeral: This might be one of those films that I have to watch more than once to truly understand why it would be included on a movie bucket list. Don't get me wrong...I typically like Hugh Grant in just about any movie. I find it lacked a truly cohesive storyline. None of the characters were all that captivating (even Hugh Grant's character). I wouldn't go so far as to say it was terrible...there are plenty of other films that would fall into such a category. I would say it was average at best.

12 Angry Men: When I found this on DVD at Barnes and Noble and read the synopsis on the back I was actually intrigued. It doesn't feature a lot of well-known actors (at least to younger viewers). What made the movie all the more interesting is that this type of story is actually relevant today. If you're looking for action and adventure...look elsewhere. This drama based on a jury of 12 men deciding the fate of a young man accused of murder is something that could easily be remade today. I think this was a very well made film that didn't try to do more than necessary to tell a captivating story. If I go into much more detail, I would certainly ruin the movie. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good legal drama.

Groundhog Day: The premise of this movie never really seemed all that interesting to me. I know plenty people swear by this as a comedy classic. I disagree. Yes, there were a few parts that occasionally made me laugh. But overall it was about what I expected it to be. Maybe it's just not my type of humor. I'm sure someone reading this will be shocked that I disliked it. Maybe it was that I was predisposed against it, however, I felt the same way about The Goonies before I watched it for this list and I actually changed my mind. It would be much better for me if every movie on the list I was skeptical about was better than I initially thought. Sadly Groundhog Day was not one of those movies.

Now that I have two 3 day weekends back-to-back to close out 2021, I'm going to try and clear out a few more selections. Not sure which ones I'll tackle next. I'm also pondering a brief entry that takes a break from the bucket list challenge...all about Christmas movies. As always, feel free to leave a comment if you agree or disagree with any of the reviews I have included. I also saw online an ad for another movie poster that lists 100 movies from the 90s. I might just have to purchase that one as well...for another bucket list challenge. Some appear to be duplicates from the current list...which only means I will be able to work my way through it faster. Until next time...

July Challenge Update

 I haven't made a lot more progress on the Bucket List Challenge, however, I did scratch another five titles off of the poster in July. I'll review them below, and as always beware of potential spoilers.

Jaws: For as long as I can remember I've also been under the impression that Jaws is an exceptionally graphic and somewhat frightening film. For that reason I was expecting it to be somewhat scarier than it was. As with a lot of horror-type movies I found it to be rather predictable in the sense that I could generally anticipate when the bad stuff was going to happen. I expected far more blood and gore given the hype. I won't say that I didn't like the movie, but I can safely say it is unlikely to be one I would watch again (unless it just so happens to be on TV and nothing better is on).

This Is Spinal Tap: I'll put this movie into the category of "what the heck did I just watch and why." I get that it was supposed to be something of a "mockumentary." With that said I just could not get into it and couldn't really focus on it. Perhaps I need to watch it again to fully "get it." There are plenty of other movies that fall into that category, and many of them I ended up liking the second (or sometimes third) time around. Specific examples would be "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and "Moulin Rouge." So I won't rule out another attempt at watching it, but not before I finish off other movies I have not watched yet.

Fight Club: Yes, I'm sure many of you will be surprised that I had not seen this film prior to embarking upon the Bucket List Challenge. Like others, there was no particular reason I hadn't seen it. As for the film itself...it was certainly interesting. This one did keep my attention and admittedly I did not expect the plot twist at the end. So kudos for catching me off guard with the ending (and no, I won't spoil it for those who haven't watched it as no one spoiled it for me). Although I didn't dislike the movie, I'm not so sure it is worth all of the hype either. I can understand at least why it is on a movie bucket list.

The Godfather: Another classic movie. I happened to catch this one on TV and decided to watch it that way. Of course with commercials added, I expect it is possible that I missed bits and pieces of the movie that I would have seen had I watched it on a DVD. I don't think I missed anything significant. As far as mafia movies go, it was probably a little less violent than others I have seen (think "Casino" as an example). As a side note (unrelated to the plot of the film), I was surprised at how handsome Al Pacino was when he was younger. Can't say he aged all that well. Probably not a movie I would really ever watch again, but as with "Jaws" I wouldn't necessarily change the channel if I happened across it on TV again.

Lawrence of Arabia: Epic movie! But, you really have to be committed to the cause to embark on a film such as this. It's very long! I got to see this one in a unique setting as it was played on a huge outdoor screen at the National World War I Museum. I've studied some of the actual history surrounding T.E. Lawrence (played by Peter O'Toole in the movie)...and I know that the movie is somewhat loosely based on his life. But as most of my history classes don't generally talk much about Lawrence it was difficult to separate the fact from the fiction. I didn't pick up on a lot of huge historical errors (that wouldn't be obvious to most people). I've studied WWI (and to some degree the Arab portions of the conflict) in pretty great detail and I was able to enjoy the story without being too nit-picky on historical accuracy. I'd probably watch it again. Like Pacino, Peter O'Toole was quite handsome as a young man.

There you have...the five most recent additions to the completed list. I'll probably watch a few more titles over the Labor Day weekend, when I have an extra day off. Feel free to add any comments if you think I missed something or disagree with any of my opinions. I love a good discussion!

Day Three Recap Memorial Day Weekend Movie Marathon

 Alrighty, here's the final installment from the movie marathon weekend. I only added two more movies on that Sunday since I was kind of burnt out by that afternoon. Here we go...

Casino Royale: The idea of Daniel Craig as James Bond never really thrilled me. I mean a blond Bond? The horror! Not that I dislike Daniel Craig at all. I actually like him. Just never thought of him as the James Bond type. Additionally I've never been much of James Bond fan (although I say Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan were the two best). The movie was alright but far too long for my taste. Overall score: C+.

In Bruges: Although it has some funny quotes and parts of it totally amused me I think generally speaking this movie is overrated. I'm not saying it's bad. Maybe, like some other films, it needs to be seen more than once to really appreciate it. Can't say I'm a big fan of Colin Farrell, with the exception of his role in Horrible Bosses. Overall rating: C.

That's it for now. About to watch the next movie on the list and I may try to watch a few tomorrow as well.

Recap of Day Two of the Movie Marathon

 On the second day of my marathon I had much more time to watch movies. I started in the early afternoon after wrangling my poor pug to the groomers to get a dreaded nail trim/grinding. In total I managed to scratch four more films off of the poster. Here are my thoughts...

The Goonies: I'm sure there are plenty of you thinking how is it possible that I have not seen this movie yet, considering I was old enough to have watched it when it came out. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure of the answer. For some reason I had some pre-conceived notion that I would hate it (kind of like why I never saw The Princess Bride until 2008 or 2009...but to the dismay of a great many people I actually did hate that one). With The Goonies I found myself wondering why I had resisted watching it for so long. I enjoyed the movie, however, I'm still not a fan of Corey Feldman. Never really was. Overall rating: B+.

Little Miss Sunshine: Didn't have an opinion of this movie prior to watching. I'm not sure I had ever heard of it prior to looking at the poster. I like Greg Kinnear and Steve Carrell most of the time. It was definitely a cute movie...and I was surprised by the ending. I think my overall rating for this one is an A-. Could have been better in some places...but worth watching. 

Wall-E: Disclaimer prior to my review...I haven't watched many animated movies (Disney or otherwise) since about 1994 (after The Lion King). I'm not a fan of most of the offerings since that time. There are some exceptions but Wall-E is not one of them. I liked the main character generally speaking, however, I thought he was a poor imitation of Johnny 5 from Short Circuit. I just could not get into it and the repetitive underlying message about the dangers of climate change kind of annoyed me. It's a good message in small doses but they really hit you over the head with it in this movie. The animation itself was pretty good...no issue with that. Overall rating D+. I expect better from Disney Pixar.

Casablanca: A true Hollywood classic. My only true critique of this movie was the overuse of its most famous quote. I was under the impression it was only said once not several times in rapid succession. I liked the characters and the storyline. In some ways it kind of reminds me of another film (probably unknown to a great many people) The Battle of Algiers. But since I'm fairly certain Casablanca came first I will make the assumption that perhaps it was an inspiration for Franz Fanon (or maybe not, not like I can ask the guy). Overall rating: A.

Coming up next will be the review of the final two movies I watched that weekend. After 8 I kind of got burnt out and couldn't watch anymore.  

Night One Recap from Memorial Day Weekend Movie Marathon

 Hi all! I'm back. Should have written these next three entries sooner but I got distracted with vacation and work stuff. Another 3 day weekend so I'll catch up on the entries and try to knock a few more off of the list. 

The first day of the movie marathon (well night since I worked on Friday during the day) resulted in two movies being scratched off. I enjoyed both of them. Now for the reviews...

Dr. Strangelove: It got off to a bit of a slow start and I was questioning my judgment a bit for selecting this as the first film. However, once the basics of the story were established I found the movie pretty dang funny. Topping it off as a pleasant surprise was seeing a very young James Earl Jones in the cast. I've always liked George C. Scott. Overall rating probably a B+ (the slow start keeps it from getting an A).

Monty Python's Life of Brian: My first foray into Monty Python came many, many years ago with Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Admittedly I didn't quite get the humor the first couple of times I watched it. Not a huge shock since it's often said that British humor can be an acquired taste. But once I did "get it" I loved it. I kind of expected Life of Brian to be the same sort of acquired taste. Much to my surprise I "got it" pretty much from the start and found the movie hysterical. Overall rating: A.

Next post will review day two of the marathon.

Two More off of the List

 Before I start my Memorial Day weekend movie marathon I wanted to write a short entry about the last two movies I checked off of the list. Again, you'll probably be shocked that I had not seen them until recently but that's okay. 

First up was "Pulp Fiction." I think I previously stated that I am not a huge fan of Quentin Tarantino's movies. While I don't object to some blood and violence (I do typically like action/adventure movies) I find that Tarantino's films usually go a bit overboard on the blood, gore, and violence. At least that is my opinion. Now I was actually a bit surprised by "Pulp Fiction" that it didn't go to the same extreme as films like "From Dusk Till Dawn" (or at least the 2nd half of it) or "Inglorious Basterds" (which I despise for so many reasons...none of which are relevant to this post). So for that reason "Pulp Fiction" is probably the Tarantino film I like the best. 

The second movie crossed off the list is "The Matrix." I left this choice up to a random Facebook poll as which to watch next and it was nearly a unanimous choice. Although my friends seem to overwhelmingly recommend this film I was left less than impressed (and certainly not eager to watch the next films in the series). Maybe it was because I didn't really "get it." I have to admit I was more than a little disappointed because when compared to some of the titles in this challenge it was one I actually wanted to see because so many people I know really like it. Maybe when the challenge is closer to being completed I will give it another try to see if it makes more sense with a second viewing.

With that I will end this entry so that I can start with the movie marathon in about 30 minutes. I'll write a new post reviewing tonight's selection(s).

The First 31 (WARNING! Spoilers may be included)

 Hi again! As promised the next post in this blog will list the first 31 films that I have completed on my 100 Movies Bucket List challenge. As with the films that remain to be seen, I am not sure what criteria was used by the creators of the bucket list to determine why these 100 films should constitute a bucket list. Some, as I'm sure you will agree, are perfectly logical choices (with some of them listed on the AFI's Top 100 Movies of All-Time List). I'll include a short review/opinion of each film listed below. So without further ado let's begin. The order I list them reflects the order in which they appear on the scratch off chart starting in the top and moving left to right (you can see a picture of the poster in the previous post).

WARNING!! There may be details that some would consider spoilers. I try my best to limit including them, however, not everyone agrees on what details are to be considered spoilers. Therefore a detail I consider trivial may be considered by someone else to be a spoiler. Continue at your own risk.

The Shawshank Redemption: I don't remember a great deal about the movie, except that in general I thought it was a decent movie. You can't really go wrong if Morgan Freeman is in the movie.

The Dark Knight: Second of the newer Batman films featuring Christian Bale. Also the one in which Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his supporting role as Joker. For those that have seen the Joker movie with Joaquin Phoenix, I feel like Phoenix's Joker is kind of a mix between Ledger's Joker and Jack Nicholson's Joker...leaning more to the darker side like Ledger. Also has Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent. 

E.T.: One of my childhood favorites, but it has been a very long time since I have actually watched the movie. 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: I have seen this movie numerous times...including at a few of the "Live" performances (with props). Clearly Tim Curry was phenomenal in this movie. With that said (and as much as I love Tim Curry) I think there was one person who would have done a better job as Dr. Frank N. Furter...and that person would have been Freddie Mercury. 

Office Space: A comedy classic with lots of quotable lines. Despite it's humor, this is one of the movies I question as to why it's included on a bucket list with some arguably true classics (and taking the place of plenty of movies that might also be considered classics). No matter how many of times I have seen it, I always laugh.

Raiders of the Lost Ark: Of all of the Indiana Jones films, this is my least favorite. Not that it's bad, and probably to the disdain of a great many people, I actually prefer Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade featuring Sir Sean Connery (R.I.P.). 

The Grand Budapest Hotel: One of the more recently made films on the list. I saw it in the theater not long after it came out. I'm not entirely certain that I "got it." Probably one I need to re-watch in order to fully understand it.

The Notebook: Another one of the "I'm not sure why it's on the list" films. Not that I dislike the movie, but it's a pretty standard romantic film that isn't overly special in its plot. The ending was a bit of a twist that I didn't exactly expect. 

The Lion King: Here's where I probably disappoint more than a fair number of readers. I'm not a huge fan of this Disney classic. Of the late 80's/early 90's Disney animated feature films (following Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin) it's my least favorite. I did see the live action remake in 2019 and didn't hate it. 

Stand By Me: A forgotten favorite from my childhood years. Had so many of the cool childhood actors from the 80s (including one Wil Wheaton!). The pie-eating contest is probably my favorite part of the movie.

Dirty Dancing: An 80s classic that I have seen countless times. Great movie but not so great as a musical on-stage (I saw a production of it in Germany back in 2012). Who didn't love Patrick Swayze in this movie?

Jurassic Park: It's the only movie in this franchise I have bothered to watch. Saw it on the big screen when it first came out. Not a particular favorite of mine, but I didn't hate it.

Star Wars Episodes IV, V, and VI: I have yet to see any of the prequels or Episode IX, but as a child growing up in the 80s how could I not have seen the "original" trilogy. It's been awhile since I've seen Episodes V and VI, but still love them.

Schindler's List: One of the best movies on this bucket list (in my humble opinion). It follows fairly close to the book. As a European historian I have a particular interest in WWII and this remains one of my favorite movies dealing with the topic.

Breakfast at Tiffany's: Audrey Hepburn classic, but not my favorite film of hers (I prefer Sabrina or My Fair Lady). Nonetheless, I don't question the reason for its inclusion on this bucket list. Audrey is likely my favorite actress of all time.

Back to the Future: Hilarious 80s movie that spawned two sequels (Part II was okay, Part III was barely tolerable). Christopher Lloyd's Doc Brown is an endearing character.

Forrest Gump: Another inarguable choice for the list. Although I am far from a big fan of Tom Hanks, I always enjoy this movie (as much for Sally Field and Robin Wright). I love that you can essentially start watching at any point of the movie and not be really lost.

The Silence of the Lambs: Moments of over-the-top gore, but at least it fits with the overall plot of the movie (unlike a few others that come to mind that include gratuitous violence). Hard to have a movie where a cannibal is one of the central characters and not include some blood. 

Se7en: I can't say I like Brad Pitt much off screen, but I like a lot of his movies...especially his earlier films. Throw in Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey and it's even better. Spacey always plays such a phenomenal bad guy!

Airplane!: Slapstick comedy with memorable lines. Not my favorite comedy of all time, but certainly one I enjoy watching whenever it comes on TV.

Mean Girls: Another member of the "why is this movie on the list" club. I like the movie and enjoy watching it anytime I come across it. Doubtful it deserves to be on a 100 Movie Bucket List.

Ghostbusters: Always an entertaining flick. Unfortunate victim of an unnecessary reboot a few years ago. Not sure why Hollywood feels it needs to remake classic movies other than a lack of new, original ideas to make into movies. 

The Green Mile: Not a favorite, but I can see why it was included. At least it has a unique storyline...even if I found myself losing focus during parts of the movie.

Rocky: I liked all of the Rocky movies up to and including Rocky IV. I haven't bothered with anything since, with the exception of the first Creed movie. 

Citizen Kane: The most obvious classic movie on the list. The standard by which many films are judged and certainly way ahead of its time. I was introduced to this movie in a film class at a local community college and found myself enjoying it. Said to be loosely based on William Randolph Hearst.

American History X: Certainly not appropriate for all audiences...very graphic in nature. Not among my favorites. 

Brokeback Mountain: Questionable choice for the list at best. At worst it was 2 hours and 14 minutes of my life I can't ever have back. Not even Heath Ledger can make this movie worth watching.

Titanic: Despite knowing from the very beginning how the movie was destined to end, I still cried. I still cry at the end every time I watch it. The only regrettable thing about this movie is that someone decided it should be re-released in a 3D version. I only watched the 3D version because it was about the only thing open on Good Friday during my semester abroad in Germany (practically everything shuts down on religious holidays and Sundays). The only time the 3D produced a good effect was when the water was rushing through the lower levels of the boat.

The Pianist: The most recent addition to my list of completed movies. A very dark movie, but appropriately so given the subject matter. Not likely to watch it again.

The Truman Show: Unique storyline played brilliantly by Jim Carrey (despite the fact that I essentially loathe Jim Carrey). I can really only tolerate him in a few movies...luckily this was one of them.

The Wizard of Oz: Another classic that truly deserves to be on a list like this. Personally, I'm not a huge fan but I can enjoy watching it on occasion. Of course the movie required that certain elements of the original story be changed to better suit the big screen. People familiar with turn-of-the-century American history might know that the original book was actually a Populist allegory (look it up). I'm always amused knowing that the Cowardly Lion was based on former U.S. Senator and 3X failed Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan.

Well...there you have it. The first 31 films on the list. Future blog posts won't likely be this long as I won't wait for another 31 to be watched before writing about them. Until next time...

Introduction and welcome to my movie blog

 Hi everyone! Welcome to my movie blog. I'll start by telling you a little bit about what this blog is going to be about and what you can likely expect. Obviously it's about movies...but let me be more specific. Although I do enjoy doing movie reviews on occasion they will not be focus of my posts...at least not at first. Instead I'm inviting you all to join me on my various movie watching challenges. The idea is pretty straightforward. Not long ago I purchased one of those scratch off bucket list posters. This particular poster includes 100 movies to see. As of today I have seen 31 out of the 100 movies listed. Below is a picture of how the poster looks with the 31 movies scratched off.

My goal is scratch off as many of the remaining 69 movies as I can. With that goal in mind I have decided that I am going to spend the better part of my Memorial Day weekend engaged in a "Bucket List Movie Marathon." I may watch a few titles as time permits in the weeks leading up to the marathon. 

I have always considered myself something of a movie buff. I love movie trivia and I can routinely quote from several of my favorite films at length. For example, I can recite a large portion of the original "Major League" movie (so many great quotes from that movie). I don't rule out entire genres, although I am far less inclined to watch horror movies...not because I am scared of them; I just generally find them lacking in a decent plot/storyline. They are also typically somewhat predictable in nature (my opinion). Probably my two favorite genres are comedy and musicals. I've been known to enjoy films that other people would probably dismiss as weird while avoiding (or disliking) many films that some people consider classics. This last part is one of the reasons why the movie bucket list poster presents such a challenge...it will "force" me to watch some movies that I have put off watching. I'm sure plenty of you out there will ask yourself "how can she claim to be a movie buff if she hasn't seen xx film." I invite y'all to share your comments/opinions of the movies I watch. I'll probably add a short review of each film (along with my overall opinion of the film).

That's about all for the introduction. The next post will provide a list of the 1st 31 movies that have already been completed along with a very short blurb about each. Then follow along as I work towards completing this challenge.

Thanks for reading!