Hello readers. Sorry it’s been so long since the last update. Maintaining a blog like this can be very challenging when you’re as easily distracted as I am. Now that the peaceful summer is upon us and most of my stressful endeavors are behind me, this place will see a surge of new life very soon.
Part of the reason for the long delay can be blamed on technical difficulties with Blogger’s formatting system. In recent months, my posts have appeared sloppy and inconsistent with each other. It often took more time to clean up the mess than to write it. I’m using a new software, Windows Live Writer, which will hopefully fix some of these issues. Time will tell.
As you can see from looking at the “Upcoming Reviews” section, I have fallen way behind my writing schedule. Everything will be covered in due time. But first, we’ll get things going again with a special list of favorites. This meme was originally created by Anna at Defiant Success. You can see her work at http://movienut14.blogspot.com
Feel free to post your own responses here or at your respective website.
Thank you to all my followers for staying with me through the downtime. Looking forward to many more cinema discussions in the future.
Movie you love with a passion.
The Truman Show
Terrific story, beautiful cinematography, perfect acting, well-crafted suspense, wonderful music, and a thrilling conclusion. An all-around great film about a culture obsessed with reality television that was a few years ahead of its time.
Movie you vow to never watch
From Justin to Kelly
Speaking of reality television, someone decided that American Idol didn’t get enough exposure and came up with a way to extend the fame machine’s life for another cash grab. I’m sure Justin and Kelly are very nice people but I have no desire to watch this cliché-fest.
Movie that literally left you speechless.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
……
Movie you always recommend.
The Wrestler
Wrestling is fake, you say? Fake to whom?
Actor/actress you always watch, no matter how crappy the movie is.
Tim Curry
This guy has more charisma in his left eye than most of today’s A-listers have within their souls.
Actor/actress you don’t get the appeal for.
Halle Berry
Halle Berry always seems to try harder at making herself look sexy than immersing herself into the character. Sometimes looking sexy is all that’s required from her.
Actor/actress, living or dead, you’d love to meet.
Michael Caine
After watching his acting tutorials, Michael Caine seems like the ultimate professional that has seen and done it all. I could listen to this man tell stories all day.
Sexiest actor/actress you’ve seen. (Picture required.)
Isla Fisher
Dear Isla,
If Sacha is ever out of town and you need someone to help babysit you the kids, I’m available to help.
Ian
Dream Cast
The Sega Dreamcast
Currently, my sister has custody of it. But I have a Wii now, so it’s no big deal.
Favorite Actor Pairing
Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau
Felix: In other words, you’re throwing me out!
Oscar: Not in other words. Those are the perfect ones.
Favorite Movie Setting
New York City
The city that never sleeps.
Favorite decade for movies
1980s
The era of nostalgia.
Chick flick or action movie?
Action Movie
I’m a guy, so naturally…
Hero, villain or anti-hero?
Hero
The world can never have too many of them. (Someone should turn this into a motivational poster.)
Black and white or color?
Color
I can appreciate the unique qualities of black and white cinema. But color is superior. Sorry, old timers.
Welcome back Ian.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your answers to this meme and I especially like your choices of Michael Caine and Isla Fisher, I've had a thing for Isla ever since her Home And Away days.
I'd also be interested to hear your opinions of Windows Live Writer as well, it came pre-installed on my computer but I've never used it.
Hi Ian, I notice you moderate your comments so you can delete this one when you've read it.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say thanks for following and putting On The Road again on your blog roll but I've recently deleted it. Other commitments were making it difficult for me to keep it updated and I also found that posting about obscure cult films was self defeating.
I'll still keep an interest in blogger and
I'll happy keep dropping by here because I find your writing a breath of fresh air amongst the movie blogging fraternity.
Sorry to take up so much of your time.
Paul, you are welcome to spend as much time as you please reading and commenting here. It is never a bother. Thanks very much for your support.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that On The Road Again didn't work out for you. Don't let it get you down though. As my mother would probably say, whatever defeats us today will make us stronger tomorrow. I've noticed that you also run a Michelle Pfeiffer/Meg Ryan themed site. I've seen a few of their films but I'm sure there is a lot about their careers to be learned from your essays. So expect to see me drop by there soon with some feedback of my own.
All the best to you.
Ooooh... memes are fun! :D
ReplyDeleteMovie I Love With A Passion: Disney's Rapunzel/Tangled (2010). As much as I dislike the whole Disney Princess thing, this was an excellent attempt at making a girl's movie that (tom)boys can sit through without being bored. It was funny, well-thought out and, dare I say it, kind of intense at times. It's leagues above other Disney Princess movies such as Cinderella (1950) or The Little Mermaid (1989) in my book.
Movie I Vow to Never Watch: Titanic (1997). The boat sinks. Everyone dies. You think adding a romance subplot is going to impress me? Nuh-uh. BOR-ING. If I have to be the only female in North America to go without seeing it, that's fine by me. Not even a 3-D re-release can tempt me.
Movie That Left Me Speechless: ...and crying my eyes out in awe; How To Train Your Dragon (2010). It. Was. Beautiful. I only wish I could see it on a big screen.
Movie That I Will Always Recommend: Anatomy of A Murder (1959). Jimmy Stewart, how everything plays out, the characters, the setting, the subtle cinematography, Jimmy Stewart, the resolution... did I mention Jimmy Stewart?
...oh, and just about ANY Studio Ghibli or Pixar film ever made. One movie from either of them has, on average, more heart and soul than an entire day's worth of programming from most of the channels you find on TV. Put together.
Actor/actress I always watch, no matter how crappy the movie is: Bela Lugosi, which is really testing the lows in the Crappy Department. A very close second is Mark Hamill for his voice work.
Actor/actress I don’t get the appeal for: Brad Pitt. I've never understood the appeal for him, ever. People say he so awesome/sexy and all I can think is "Really? Since when?"
Actor/actress, living or dead, I’d love to meet: To be honest, I'd much rather meet and work with the entire Best Brains group than most anyone else.
Sexiest actor/actress I’ve seen. (Picture required.): Don't get me started. Seriously. ._. We might be here a while.
Dream Cast: It would be full of nerds and nerd icons. That is all.
Favorite Actor Pairing: To not be like Ian (because yes Lemmon and Matthau are awesome), I'd have to say Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. The movies of theirs I have seen (mostly Road to... titles) are hilarious. Glaringly stereotypical? Sure, but that doesn't make them less hilarious. Patty cake, patty cake, baker's man...
Favorite Movie Setting: This varies, as some places are PERFECT for the movie and others seem rather out-of-place. It just depends. (Oh, and NYC/Southern CA is overrated, 'kaythanksbye.)
Favorite decade for movies: I gotta choose?
Chick flick or action movie?: Action, full-stop. I don't have the stomach, or mind-set, for chick flicks. They're too riffably awful.
Hero, villain or anti-hero?: Anti-hero, as they're usually more interesting character-wise. Villains can be cool too (particularly as the protagonist or one from the Disney Animated Canon), and straight-up heroes are often boring. Heroes need to be written well and a lot of the time, they aren't and feel rather contrite.
Black and white or color?: Again, it all depends. Black and white works good for a lot of the classic movies, both good and bad, while color does the same for more modern movies. The only thing that gets me is colorization. Unless it's for a campy B-movie feel, you're on my hit-list.
Thanks for chiming in, Ellen.
ReplyDeleteTangled sounds awesome. Can't wait to see it.
No love for Titanic? I'll try to convince you to watch it someday. The story has a lot more depth than most people give it credit for. The sinking sequence (which is almost half of the movie) has great build-up and was shot very well. Almost enough to qualify it as an action movie.
I do agree that Pixar and Studio Ghibli are home to some of the best filmmakers working today.
Loved your choices and comments. Ian, you are witty, passionate, and have great things to say. Now pursue this dammit! I'm serious. I want you to be the next Ebert. If I'm doing this whole art thang... YOU CAN DO THIS.
ReplyDelete....just saying ;)