Day 13- A guilty pleasure

Well, I've been stuck on this question, cuz I genuinely can't think of any movies that fit this category. I even asked my sister what she thought mine would be, and she concluded I don't have any either. But for her, it was cheesy, impossible disaster flicks like Volcano. She says they're awful movies, but whenever they come on, she can't turn them off. Perfect example of a guilty pleasure movie, but I can't seem to find any for me. There's bad movies I've watched once and didn't mind, but I didn't go back to them for repeat viewings. I also tend not to feel guilty for things I do like, so that also makes it hard.

Day 12- A film that changed your opinion about something

Well, I have only rather lame answers here...

Before 1970: Rain (1932) -- Joan Crawford was pretty! She was also a good actor! And I like her when she's young! So, lame answer, but this film did change my opinion about her.

Post 1970: Kate & Leopold (2001) -- What do you know? I can tolerate, even like some modern romantic comedies. But I like this one mostly because of Liev Schreiber's character, who isn't in it nearly enough, but makes me grin when he is.

Day 11- A film that you hate

Well, I only have one answer for this one. I can think of plenty of movies I dislike, but genuinely, honestly, truly hate? That's reserved for something really special. It takes a lot of energy to hate. And I can only think of one movie I happily will spend that much energy on, hating it.

The Matrix (1999). You know, I don't even think hatred is a strong enough word for what I feel for this film. And a large portion of that hatred is wrapped up in the fact that many subsequent movie fights were ruined by this film. They became exaggerated caricatures of fights. Heavily choreographed, slow motioned, impossible, stupid. Not all films, obviously, but enough to raise my hatred towards The Matrix with every one I saw. Besides that, I just plain can't stand anything about that movie, from plot to characters to everything in between and beyond. It's the only movie I can say that about.

Day 10- Favourite classic film

I think this prompt means to be magnanimous, designed to allow a modern audience to pick one ol' time movie they like, something Turner Classic Movies would show, presuming the meme writer watches mostly current stuff. But tonight, I'm in an irascible and impatient mood, and I find it a bloody annoying prompt. "Classic" is such a pesky word. It's not helped by the fact that many of the films that are considered famous classics I don't like (movies like Casablanca, The Third Man, Citizen Kane, Dr. Zhivago, Touch of Evil, Shane, High Noon, The Maltese Falcon, Notorious, 2001: A Space Odyssey... yeah, yeah, yeah, it's true. I don't like any of those movies. Shocked? Well, I warned you I was feeling cranky!)

So, to answer the darned question:

Before 1970: Paths of Glory (1957) - Just about the only Stanley Kubrick movie I not only like, but am in awe of it. Powerful, powerful movie with a great cast that just hits me in the gut every time and gets better every time I see it.

Post 1970: Star Wars (1977) - The movie love of my life, that changed my life. There's before-SW and after-SW, but I often think you really have to be about my age to get what that truly means. Seeing those previews on the little tv and going what the heck is that furry roaring creature? and then waiting in huge lines forever and experiencing that film for the first time in the theater, no spoilers, no clue what was coming or even what it was about, and when that Imperial cruiser goes and goes, and then zowie! space battle! and the good guys lose, and then Darth Vader's entrance... holy smoke, there was no experience quite like that one. Or waiting in line during the weeks that followed with two hundred other mom's and their kids, waiting for JC Penney's to open in the morning so you could get in and buy a t-shirt and the newest Star Wars figures. Or having your mom drive you to the department store (!) to meet Darth Vader and get his autograph. While you return and see the movie again and again in the theater because your family just can't get enough, and you know you're never going to see it again except on tv where things are tiny and panned and scanned and you'll miss what's on the sides so you'd better keep going until you have every frame memorized, every sound effect imprinted, all the dialogue memorized, every note of music... (And then, lo and behold! VCRs come out, and then DVDs, and you can see the movie again, and wide-screen to boot, and then Lucas goes and changes the movie you loved with his so-called special editions, "special" my Aunt Jenny's fruitcake, and that's a whole other story, but it doesn't detract from the original experience.)

And how was that for a massive slew of run-on, stream-of-conscious sentences? LOL!

Day 9- The best soundtrack/score to a film

So, this is asking for "best" not "favorite" -- which is indeed a different thing. Best to me means a score that not only supports the movie, but that if you replaced it with something different, the movie would no longer work. I think there's a reason humming just a few now-famous notes from either of the following scores is recognizable to most people, even when they haven't seen the movie! Both scores are copied, parodied, replayed, imitated, and they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Both are great scores on their own, but play them with their respective films, and they make both these movies even better. There's a lot of fabulous film scores out there, but these two are justifiably iconic and get my vote for best soundtrack:

Before 1970: Psycho (1960) by Bernard Hermann

Post 1970: Jaws (1975) by John Williams

Day 8- The best opening/closing credits

I love opening and closing credits. This probably stems from my love of film scores, as in older films, the main title and end credits gave you a chance to hear the score without the talking and noises that would accompany it during the film itself. Nowadays, with the distinct lack of opening credits (which I've already complained about), and the rampant abundance of songs over the end credits instead of score... well, lets just say the art of opening/closing credits is dying. And I hate that, passionately. Right up there with bouncing cameras, choppy editing, and stupidity in plots. They're ruining my movie-going experience.

Before 1970: Opening Credits - Okay, this is nearly impossible to choose from. Most old movies had great opening credits. Great themes and theme songs. There's the straight-forward ones that have something cool about them (Kiss Me Deadly - Nat King Cole song and credits flowing backwards as we head down the highway), or there's crazy, clever ones like Mad Mad Mad Mad World, or cool funny sung ones like The Court Jester, or epic ones like Ben-Hur. I loved when movies had overtures. Opening credits were an art in the old days.

Post 1970: Opening Credits - Big Jake (1971). Music by Elmer Bernstein, and a really nifty history lesson that sets the background for the movie. The juxtaposition of modern advances and civilization with the violence still going on in the Old West sets the perfect tone. And always makes me realize 1909 wasn't that long ago, really. These opening credits just make me smile.

But since 1971 is so long ago, I have to mention The Untouchables (1987) again as well (with Dead Again and LA Confidential right behind it, and on the clever animated level: Catch Me if You Can), because The Untouchables still fulfills everything I want out of opening credits: mood-setting score, nifty visuals, and actual credits where I can see who's going to be in the movie I'm about to watch.

Before 1970: Ending Credits - Well, this is harder, because there wasn't much to end credits in the old days. "The End." Occasionally a cast page after that as time progressed. And I have to admit, I loved that too. As for a favorite? For funny - The Road to Bali, just to watch Bob Hope struggling with that "the End" sign. "Oh no you don't!" For serious, In Harm's Way (1965) would probably take the prize from me. Those crashing waves, that very ominous but amazing end cue from Jerry Goldsmith. Gives me chills every time.

Post 1970: Ending Credits - for fun, A Life Less Ordinary and its wacky claymation is highly amusing. For serious, Star Wars. Those last notes of the movie, segueing into the end credits ... bliss! And it's a prime example of a film of where I settle back into my seat during those end credits just to hear the music.

Day 7- The best plot twist/ending

Before 1970: Vertigo (1958). I'm not particularly fond of twists, but Vertigo just works for me. I absolutely love the ending. Really, the ending makes the movie for me.

Post 1970: No Way Out (1987). I was having a hard time with the modern film choice, so I'm just going to go with this one. It pushes the believability envelope just a bit, but I still love it. It made grin and grin when I got to the end of the movie.

Sorry for the lack of details, but I'm down with a cold and not up to much more right now.

Day 6- Favourite actor/actress

Hah! Been here done that, answered this before. Favorite actor is still William Holden.

And if I'm playing by my own rules here, then it's Sam Neill for the post 1970 answer to this question. I've loved him since I first saw The Hunt for Red October. And then I hunted up everything of his I could find. The neat thing about liking actors in this era, of course, is that you can watch their career grow, can wait for new movies and shows. It's all brand new and evolving. I remember how excited I was when Jurassic Park came out, because before that film when I said, "I love Sam Neill," all I got was a "who?" response.

Day 5- Favourite love story in a film

Before 1970: Souls at Sea (1937) - Powdah (George Raft) and Babsie (Olympe Bradna). I didn't know what to expect when I watched this movie, but I certainly didn't expect it to include one of the sweetest -- and saddest -- love stories ever. This is a different type role for George, much softer, not so tough, and he's wonderful in it. Watching George woo the gentle, sweet Babsie (and I mean that in the best way, she's adorable), win her, and then lose her. It was so touching. And yes, George Raft made me cry and cry, too (so, pffft to anyone who says he can't act).


Post 1970: The Wind and the Lion (1975) - the Raisuli (Sean Connery) and Eden Pedecaris (Candice Bergen). I've been sharing these prompts with my sister, and she rolled her eyes when I told her this choice for my favorite love story. She called this movie the most frustrating love story of all time. Hee. But what she hates about it is exactly what I love so much about it. I love the relationship between the two main characters, how it grows and becomes something special and wonderful -- without them ever sharing a kiss or bed or anything physical. When he comes and rescues her single-handedly after her escape attempt goes wrong, okay, that's probably the most romantic moment in a movie ever for me. And at the end, after she's returns the favor and rescues him, when he tells her goodbye: "I'll see you again, Mrs. Pedecaris, when were are both like golden clouds on the wind," I almost always tear up. Definitely my favorite love story in a film. It's also my favorite Sean Connery role, and one of the few films I adore Candice Bergen in. The love story is also intrinsically bound up in Jerry Goldsmith's score, which is some of the most sweepingly romantic music, I know.



Yeah, yeah, yeah, so I don't go for typical happy ending love stories. I can't help what I like.

Day 4- A film that makes you sad

Before 1970: Lonely are the Brave (1962). Gah! I love love love this movie -- until the last five minutes. Then I hate it, because my heart aches and breaks, and I'm sad for days afterwards. But Kirk Douglas, that absolutely gorgeous horse, Whiskey, and one of my all-time favorite Jerry Goldsmith scores make this movie awesome despite the fact that the ending kills me even when I know it's coming.


Post 1970: Er... I can't seem to think of one. I can think of plenty of movies with sad moments, but none of them leave me feeling sad afterwards. They ultimately end happy. I can think of several downright depressing movies, but that's not the same as sad. I'm sure I'm overlooking one, but after thinking on this for a few days, I still can't come up with one. Hm.

Day 3- A film that makes you happy

Only selecting one film this time, because while there are lots of films that make me happy, there's really only one film that I'd answer for this question instantly, where the others I'd have to think about. That would be The Dirty Dozen (1967).

This is a film that I can watch at any time of day, any day of the week, heck, every day of the week. If I'm in a less than stellar mood, it'll have me smiling again in just a few seconds. It's impossible for me to watch this film and stay in a bad mood. Just thinking about it makes me happy.

Now, you may be thinking, is she kidding? It's a war movie, nearly everyone dies including my favorite character, for goodness sake, how can this film make her happy? Well, a big part is that it's tied up with my sister and family, and many, many happy times spent watching it together over the years. And the rest of it is because it's simply a really good movie with non-stop great, quotable dialogue, acted by a whole lot of actors I love: Lee Marvin, Ralph Meeker, John Cassavetes, Charles Bronson, Clint Walker, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, Robert Ryan, George Kennedy, etc. And it's funny. The exchanges between characters just crack us up. Honestly, I don't think a single day goes by that a line or two of dialogue from this film isn't quoted between my sister and me. It's that much a part of our daily lives. Even normal stuff, like "Come on," or "Yeah," we usually say with the character's inflections, just to make each other grin.

I don't think there's any other film ever made, not even among my favorites, that puts me in the same Happy Realm ballpark as The Dirty Dozen.

Day 2- Most underrated film

Before 1970: From a 2010 perspective, looking at most modern audiences, almost all classic films are underrated! Hey world, watch more old movies! You're missing out!

Post 1970: The Postman (1997). This movie came out at the same time as Titanic. I saw Titanic first, then The Postman, and I remember thinking as I watched the latter, now this is a movie. Don't get me wrong, I loved Titanic, and I've seen in a bunch of times. But where Titanic was strictly entertaining, The Postman was entertaining and also about something more than that, about a man who inadvertently changes the world simply by fast talking his way into getting a free meal. I absolutely love this idea, how a single spark of hope is enough to ignite a rebellion for freedom. I love watching the seeds of rebellion grow throughout the film, until the finale, where the Postman flings the bad guy's code right back at him and gives the viewer a very satisfying conclusion. I love watching unlikely characters drawn into heroism. I love strong bad guys, and ultimately, stronger good guys. The themes, the action, the conflicts, the characters... this movie is pretty much everything I want in my entertainment.

I just love this movie, but I think unless you're a Kevin Costner fan... nobody ever saw it. They were scared off by the length of the film, or poor promotion, or trailers that didn't really show the heart of it. I don't know, but I rarely encounter anyone who saw it. I'm an unabashed Kevin Costner fan, so I was at the theater practically opening weekend, and I've been in love with the film ever since that first amazing viewing. It's a nearly 3-hour movie, but I did not notice the length of time at all. I've always been fond of long movies anyway, as when they're good, they let me immerse myself in another world for a little more time before I have to return to reality. Another favorite actor, Will Patton, plays General Bethlehem, the bad guy, and, as always, he is just fabulous. He was with Kevin Costner in No Way Out as well, and the two work very well together.

It's a post-apocalyptic film, but not dark and dreary. The opposite, rather. It's a world that comes back to life. The movie was beautifully filmed, with sweeping natural/matte shot landscapes that are just gorgeous. I think I would have loved this movie for the scenery alone. James Newton Howard's score is a perfect match, and still one of my favorite scores by him.

The only thing about the film I don't like is the epilogue. That needs to go. The rest is a keeper, and The Postman is one of my favorite films.