Whaa??

First let me say that this post is NOT about chick-flicks. And it will be short. I hope. But we must begin with the setting. So.

Tonight I decided to watch Valentine's Day. I know, don't say it - it's a sappy chick-flick with no plot and underdeveloped (or non-developed) characters and it's probably not worth much of anyone's time. But I'd seen it once and couldn't remember if it was worth watching again or not, and as I had the opportunity to give it another go, I decided to take the chance.

I (almost) always watch the previews before a movie on DVD. I can't help it - it feels a little strange to skip them. As the previews began on this one, it was the normal chick-flick stupid stuff - pretty standard on these "best movie for a date night" type things... (although I don't agree with that line at all...)

Then, out of nowhere, I'm watching a (long - original?) trailer for Doctor Zhivago. No kidding. And when I realized what was happening, I thought, surely, this is some sort of TCM or remember-the-old-classics type of thing. But that bit never came. It literally was a preview to go watch Doctor Zhivago. I was curious to see what the next would be. Another like Sex & the City 2? Or another classic? Tada! Gone with the Wind, in all it's original, how-it-was-meant-to-be-seen glory is now on Blu-ray! How can you resist Clark Gable and all that great music?

And what, possibly, could follow these classics on the preview role on this romance movie? What else would fit but "The Bachelor: The Videogame" with all it's lewd flirtations, vacations and your favorite bachelors & bachelorettes from the shows? My only reaction: WHAA??? This was followed by some other beach part Wii game which I still don't understand. Finally, to top it off, AFI had a "preview" of movie clips - mostly of people watching movies (in movies) or laughing/crying together at something off screen - to ask you, the audience member, to register as a member of the AFI - because you're so important to them.

Now you're set to watch the new, light, cheesy movie actually on the DVD. Congratulations. And yikes. If that wasn't random, I sure don't know what could ever qualify to be.

This is one I'll be skipping previews on if I ever watch it again. Which, given my track record of forgetting how much I didn't like or didn't care about certain "romantic" "comedies" is a possibility. ;)

Old Movies of Joy

(ok, so I wrote this post and forgot to post it last night... so technically it's from December 12th, but hey, we knew I'd miss ONE, right?? ;) Moving on...)

tonight marked another wonderful evening at a friend's house (well, actually the house of her and her husband) watching yet another wonderf- well, another old movie, anyway.

Christmas in Connecticut - it was wonderful in that it brought together friends, made us laugh (1945 was apparently an interesting year...and full of inuendo...) at the characters, the story (how many times, when someone walked onto screen, we all went "uh-oh" in the most melodramatic way, i don't know. i should have counted), and the funny lines. don't worry, everything was "hunky-dunky" by the end of the night. ;)

oh, and it was topped off by many sweets - kettle corn, home-made Christmas cookies, home-made peanut brittle, chips & salsa... the list goes on.

perfect end for a crazy week, to be surrounded by friends. even if i did have to drive home in the freezing cold and wind. ;)

My favorite movie. Ever.

I was watching White Christmas on tv tonight (caught the last ... three-fourths... of it while doing things around the house, and when it started over again immediately after the credits finished rolling -thank you AMC- I couldn't get myself off the couch) and I realized (once again) how much I love Danny Kaye. I have seen several Danny Kaye movies and each has its memorable moments. haha. Like this (start at :45 if you don't want to watch the intro). hehe. Oh how I love it.

Don't get me wrong, White Christmas is easily one of the best Christmas movies ever. I love it. And every year I watch it several times - probably more than most would ever be comfortable with. I love the songs. I sing them very loudly (usually when I'm alone) along with the movie,. I love the dances. Some of them would never work ever again. But I love them. They are amazing and wonderful and perfect - nothing else would be good enough for this movie. And you have to admit - these folks are all extremely talented. *sigh* Plus, you can never get enough of Bing & Danny doing the "Sisters" routine. Never gets old.

I hadn't seen it yet this year, and while watching Bing & Danny dance and sing, I just had to look up some details. ;)
Thank you, IMDb.

However, White Christmas is not my favorite movie. Even if you were tricked by it being fabulous, and the huge picture, and the title, and my effervescence on the subject. And I was reminded while I was looking at the many movies these folks have been in (while digging around on IMDb) - my favorite movie. And yes, it stars Danny Kaye.

Court Jester. Best movie ever. I am always a little shocked, and a little more saddened when people have no idea what this movie is. So many fantastic quotes. "'Get it?' 'Got it.' 'Good.'" "The pellet with the poison..." Mmhmm. And that's just a start. The joys!

Oh, and it also stars Glynis Johns (mom from Mary Poppins), Angela Lansbury (please tell me you know who that is), and Basil Rathborne (the best bad-guy and swordsman ever - even better than Errol Flynn; No, really - and he was 63 when he filmed this one).

If you haven't watched this movie, you need to. Great humor; good, fun story; fabulous songs; some interesting choreography; tongue twisters I have never been able to say quickly enough to count; and good actors. Again all I can ... *sigh* ... If you can't find it, let me know. I have it taped. (Well, my dad did. And it now 'lives' at my house.) And maybe, someday, if I'm really lucky, I may own it on dvd before my tape gets worn out. ;)

Anyone able to name any other Danny Kaye movies? Go ahead, try it. Good stuff. Watch out or I may make you watch quite the marathon. :)

Movies

Why are they so much a part of everyday culture?

Through every genre, they have impact. They bring huge income for many people, and not just those in front of the camera. I will admit, some are smaller, bringing in less, and are made more for making a statment in itself than making money. However, even those that have more of a focus on how many people will see it make statements in one form or another.

I love movies. I own several, and have friends and relatives that own so many my collection seems tiny. But sometimes when my "big plan" for the night is to go home and watch a movie, I wonder why that's all I want to do with my time. Generally speaking, it is a movie I've seen before, whether a few times or lots. These are the times when I have my "sometimes" thoughts.

I wonder why I want to spend my time watching something that is merely entertaining. Yes, as I said above, there is a message of sorts in every movie, but sometimes it's just some sort of comentary on college kids, or society, or boys and girls. And, if you've seen it once, there's nothing left in it but the entertainment.

I could get more out of my relaxing if I read a book. Yes, it may not teach me anything new, but it keeps my mind working and keeps reminding me of words I don't commonly use (depending on the book, of course). Or if I crochet or knit, I'm creating something that has value or purpose to it, and is usually a gift of some sort.

I have no conclusion. Movies are fun. This much is true. They can be educational in one sense or other, though many are more wasteful of time than anything else. Anyone who has known me even for a little while knows how picky I am about what I will watch, but even so, I wonder if I should be watching any. I really don't like that thought, because I really do love watching them. Plus, when I get to that mindset, it makes me start to wonder about tv too, and there are a handful of shows I'd rather not miss.

Hm. well, I guess the wondering will just have to go on.

Old Movies

Yesterday, I was bored. I was tired. Nothing was on tv, and I wasn't feeling up to doing much of anything special. I thought: hey, I'll crochet and watch a movie. Problem: no movies to watch...none on tv, none on my shelf that felt right for the time. I know: Let's check out the OnDemand part of my cable! :) Sad realization: there's no (free) movies on here I want to watch...Except there are 3 that look slightly interesting... Sleeping Beauty (1988, I think), Snow White (1987), and You Can't Take It With You (Jimmy Stewart, awesome movie). But, I'm not really in the mood for Jimmy, fabulous as it is... sorry. Hmm...let's try Snow White.

OH MY WORD. You should have seen this movie...1987 shoulda tipped me off. It's "live-action," it's got random songs (which everyone sings slightly off-key), and it has bad costumes, to say the least. I watched 20 minutes and gave up.

I must be a glutton for punnishment, or at least for what most would term lame entertainment (I am a lover of most things Disney...), becuase after a friend left for the evening, I retreated to the couch to crochet...and watch Snow White. Lovely OnDemand picked up right where I left off. And I was actually excited to see that there was a digging song! The dwarves had random names (I suppose Disney did make up their own...) that were as strange to hear at the end of the movie as it was in the beginning.

Oh my. What have I become? Why is this how I spent Saturday night? Although, it was fairly entertaining... Maybe I'll have to try Sleeping Beauty next Saturday...

Alright, admission for those who may be worried about my old movie post: I am not Kim, but I do watch many old movies. However, no one could possibly surpass her in the realm of love of old movies that she has. So, this is not a trial to take over her throne, but rather an realization and embracing of that part of the reason we are friends; because we share the joys of these old films, even when they are slightly ridiculous. ;)