Going on Holiday to a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Well, you can count on me to get waaaaaaay behind on blogging about movie club. I have 5 blogs to do, and it just took me 5 minutes to figure out what movies we've seen and when! Now that I have them in order, here goes...

I believe this movie night happened in mid-July at Chuck & Brooke's house. We watched my pick of Roman Holiday, and Chuck's pick of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. On to the reviews!

Roman Holiday

Picked by: Stacy

Why Picked: I know that when my list gets known to the rest of the group, no one is going to be excited about this one - ESPECIALLY Dave. But that's the whole point of the movie club. This is a black and white classic with Audrey Hepburn, set in Rome. It is lighthearted, funny, simply entertaining....and I have been to Rome, so I enjoy the scenery. It takes me back (-:

Brooke: Two thumbs up!

I loved that they filmed the entire movie in Rome. The chemistry between Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck was fantastic. So sad, I was waiting for them to end up together.

Chuck: Two thumbs up!

Two things; I like that it reminds me of Italy. And the way it shows that sometimes you have to do what's right instead of what you want.

Steph: Two thumbs up!

Adorable. Loved the movie. Audrey Hepburn is precious. Loved the scenery and the good old fashioned qualities of the characters. Wow! What chemistry between AH & GP!

Dave: Two thumbs up!

I enjoyed this movie surprisingly! It reminded me of a cross between Aladdin and Coming to America. Good flick.

Stacy: Two thumbs up!

Audrey Hepburn is just so darn cute! I loved this movie mostly because it was filmed entirely in Rome, but also because of the great chemistry between the characters played by Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. I LOVE that both the boys gave it two thumbs up!

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Picked by: Chuck

Why Picked: It's a movie that I have never seen.

Brooke: Two thumbs down

I have no idea what went on in this movie.

Chuck: One thumb up, one thumb down

Started off strange and then to a whole other level. I think it shows that one person can change everything.

Steph: One thumb up, one thumb down

Fell asleep, will try to watch again before I take the movie back. I really think that there was a lot of symbolism and am interested to see what I missed.

Dave: two thumbs down

I have no idea...gave up after 30 minutes and caught up on some sleep. Sorry Chuck.

Stacy: one thumb up, one thumb down

I never knew a towel could be so multipurpose. VERY strange movie, but I did enjoy the dry humor.

The Shining and Milk

The Shining
Picked by: Dave
Why Picked: I have never seen it and it is/was a so called must see classic.










Brooke: Two thumbs up!
No one can deliver a line or give the camera a look quite like Jack Nicholson.

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
I really liked how it progressed through his own personal hell. The one thing I wish they would have explained was "the shine".

Steph: Two thumbs up!
Worth seeing, but pointless at the same time. Nicholson played his character phenomenally! I prefer movies that are a little more psychologically thrilling and this one was just kind of suspenseful.

Dave: Two thumbs up!
Not what I expected at all, but glad I have now seen it. REDRUM!

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
Good, strange, freaky. Very difficult to look at the wife.


Milk
Picked by: Steph
Why Picked: At the time I picked it, it seemed to be the leading candidate for the Oscars. Slumdog Millionaire quickly surpassed.










Brooke: Two thumbs up!
I had no idea about the movement in the 70's for gay rights. It's so relevant with Prop 8 in California. It's very sad when someone with so much potential dies too early.

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
I didn't know what to expect, but it was good. The way he used the city to get the movement started surprised me.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
I enjoyed the movie. As open-minded as I consider myself, I did find it somewhat strange to see two men making out (no, I have not seen Brokeback Mountain). I can't believe how far things have come since the late seventies.

Dave: Two thumbs up!
Strawberry milk is my favorite!

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
Great film - I wasn't sure about it at the beginning, but I was really interested in the story. Sean Penn was fantastic.

Better Late than Never

Okay, so I'm a little behind in posting the reviews from movie nights...I hardly even remember the details of this one! Chuck had originally picked The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but the video from Family Video did not work. This happens to be turning into the routine for us; we just can't seem to get quality discs from Family Video! So now we come to movie night with backup choices. Tonight's pick for Chuck ended up being Creep Show based on a Stephen King book. And Brooke's pick was Big Fish. On to the reviews...

Creep Show
Picked by: Chuck
Why Picked: This movie scared me as a kid and I like comics.






Brooke: One thumb up, one thumb down
Why are people in scary movies so dumb? Just turn and run...you have time to get out of that hole...no don't go down there!

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
I love how big stars now started off in this movie. The effects made me laugh because in the day they were good.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this movie. I knew nothing about it going into tonight, and so I was expecting to hate it (based on the title). Have I found a temporary cure for my ADD? 5 short movies in one - I almost made it through without getting fidgety!

Dave: Two thumbs up!
Very creative. Another movie I have never seen thanks to Chuck.

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
I enjoyed the comic book presentation. Creative stories! Good pick Chuck!


Big Fish
Picked by: Brooke
Why Picked: I love Tim Burton movies in general but this story and all of the colorful details make this one of my favorites.







Brooke: Two thumbs up!
Beautiful movie! Not one bad thing to say about this. How can you not love Ewan?

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
Great movie, but I had to watch movie 2 or 3 times to get everything. I really like how his dad's story is told and how the relationship grows.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
I really enjoyed this movie! I had seen it once before but I actually liked it better the second time around. I loved the way everything unfolded and how the son finally accepted his father in the end and supported his imagination for a peaceful death.

Dave: Two thumbs down
zzzzz....the big sleep! Sorry Brooke.

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
What a fantastic movie! Great stories and great acting.

Two Movies With Very Different Takes on Feeling Free

What, movie night 2 weeks in a row?!? Can't be! Yup...it happened. The schedules of five people somehow allowed us to hold movie night 2 weeks in a row. And with Brooke and Chuck's wedding just a week away, it's a wonder either of them were able to concentrate (ok, well at least Brooke...Chuck's probably not too worried about it!). Going into this movie night, it was a given there would be some sleepers for the second movie because pick #1 was a lengthy one. But, we made it through, Chuck and Brooke got home safely, and now we wait a few more weeks until we meet again. On to the reviews...

Titanic
Picked by: Steph
Why Picked: "Because Dave refused to watch it with me...but the rules about movie night require him to sit through it! I've always thought it was a great movie and wanted him to see it."

Brooke: Two thumbs up!
I am so glad that Chuck finally saw this movie. This is one of my favorite movies, not only for the great love story, but that it's based on an actual event that is still hard to believe really happened. Leo should have won an Oscar for this.

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
Overall it's a good movie, but very long. If you haven't seen it, you should have a snack and get comfortable.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
I've only seen this movie once before - in the theatre...so I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be as good as I remembered. Thankfully, it was better. Seriously - I am an extremely restless person and the 3+ hours just flew by.

Dave: Two thumbs up!
It was not as bad as I thought it would be. I liked the spin they put on it at the beginning. Oh, and "that iceberg was the devil"

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
I have seen this movie before a couple times. Good movie. A little too long, but a good story. I am a little shocked that everyone gave it two thumbs up! Way to go Dave and Chuck, I'm impressed. Before the movie Dave kept saying "It's this (arms spread out wide) then this (gesture of a crash)". He was soooo not looking forward to this movie, I'm glad he liked it!

Gardenstate
Picked by: Stacy
Why Picked: I think that most people, whether or not they admit it, go through periods of time when they feel emotionally empty. I can very closely relate to the character played by Zach Braff, so this movie really hits home with me. It's important for me to share this movie because I feel like it gives a little glimpse into my own head sometimes.

Brooke: Two thumbs up!
I've never seen this movie all the way though. I enjoyed it. Not a big fan of Natalie Portman, but I like her in this character. Good job Zach Braff!

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
I really like the flaming arrows, but I think it was a little sad overall. His friends remind me of high school.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
I loved this movie although I dozed off for 10 minutes (have seen it before though). Killer soundtrack!! Loved Zach Braff's character and what he stood for.

Dave: Two thumbs up!
I really like Portman's character in this movie.

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
There's beauty in the breakdown. Still in my top 3 favorite movies, even after seeing it 5 times.

The movie is very sad overall Chuck, welcome to the inside of my head (-: Having battled depression since the age of 15, I have never believed in taking medication for it. I don't necessarily want to feel the way I do sometimes, but I also don't want to be completely numb. At the end of the movie, I want to know, what do they do? How do they end up? Is her existence really all he needs to free himself from his state of numbness? Or does he just go back to it a few months down the road, leaving her a crumpled mess that probably would have been better off not ever meeting him? I want a sequel.

You Are Not Forgiven for Being a Jerk!

Being almost a month in the making, I think we were all ready for a great movie night. I got to see two movies I had not seen before - a Western and a Steve Martin comedy. Two movies that I never would have taken the time or had the desire to watch on my own. Although I was greatly looking forward to movie night, I admit I had set myself up for disappointment, assuming I was not going to care for either of the movies. Turns out, I was pleasantly surprised. And that is what this movie club is all about. Oh, and Brooke - thanks for the delicious jerk chicken, oh I mean Italian chicken! (-: On to the reviews...

Unforgiven
Picked by: Brooke
Why Picked: "I wanted to watch the movie Gene got his second Oscar for" (Gene Hackman is Brooke's great Uncle)

Brooke: Two thumbs up!
Gene Hackman rocks! I am not a big fan of Westerns, but this movie kept my attention. What ever you do, don't go cutting up any whores or Clint will kill you!

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
I like the way that he was trying to forget the past, but in the end you can't run from your past.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
I liked the movie alot - but I did not like the beatings. Clint Eastwood is a bad-ass!

Dave: One thumb up, one thumb down
I'm glad he got his revenge at the end, but sad that his friend had to die. That's all I got.

Stacy: One thumb up, one thumb down
Not a movie I would ever watch on my own, but I enjoyed it. Except for the jerk chicken getting to me!

A little slow at times, but overall I liked the characters and thought both Gene and Clint were great. It's kinda crazy that the really young kids were spontaneously left alone to fend for themselves, and all the pigs were getting sick. Wonder what they were gonna eat?

The Jerk
Picked by: Dave
Why Picked: "Just wanted to see a classic Steve Martin film"

Brooke: One thumb up, one thumb down
What was with the singing? Some funny parts but it is not what Chuck made it out to be.

Chuck: One thumb up, one thumb down
Some of the movie was funny, and some was dumb. But I would watch it again.

Steph: One thumb up, one thumb down
Funny - but also annoying at the same time. So glad Navin got to find his special purpose in life.

Dave: Two thumbs up!
If you have seen this movie, then "you're somebody now"

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
I actually really liked it! It was cracking me up! Lighthearted and so stupid really, but I was entertained. Glad I've seen it.

A Barrel of Laughs and a Head Spinning Horror

Last week the movie club got together to watch Chuck's pick Dumb & Dumber and my pick The Exorcist. We cooked hot dogs and Chuck brought pizza. In the spirit of the road trip to Aspin, oops I mean Aspen, we sipped on Big Gulps from the gas station!

On to the reviews...

Dumb & Dumber
Picked by: Chuck
Why Picked: "I picked this movie because it always makes me smile!"



Brooke: Two thumbs up!
Great movie. Very funny. Even though I haven't seen the movie in at least five years, I can still remember all the lines and they are still funny.

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
This is an instant classic. I could watch this film over and over.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
Took me back to Old Navy days. We had like 3 movies in the break room to watch during our 1 hour lunch breaks. I've never seen the whole movie from start to finish, but have seen every part at some time. Loved it!

Dave: Two thumbs up!
I have seen this movie 50+ times and it still makes me laugh out loud. One of my favorite movie lines ever - "Big Gulps eh...well see you later"

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
This movie cracks me up! Great soundtrack too!

The Exorcist
Picked by: Stacy
Why Picked: I enjoy a good horror flick. Problem is, there aren't that many good horror flicks. This one is supposedly pretty good.



Brooke: One thumb up, one thumb down
I respect the classic movie that it is, but I remember this movie being a lot better.

Chuck: One thumb up, one thumb down
I am stunned by the slow progression of the movie. But as an old movie it was on the cutting edge for its time.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
Beginning was definitly slow moving and I was getting pissed that the DVD froze up. Being that this was made in 1973, it definitly deserves two thumbs up. Although it was vulgar, it was definitly ahead of its time.

Dave: One thumb up, one thumb down
I need the voice to make anything I have to say meaningful, so "Lick me"

Stacy: One thumb up, one thumb down
This was quite vulgar! Lick me, lick me...slow moving in some parts (and sometimes because the DVD kept freezing) but overall pretty good.

Silence of the Lambs & Memento

Stacy: "What dessert should we make for movie night?"

Steph: "Well, what movies are we watching?"

Stacy: "Silence of the Lambs and Memento"

Steph: "OOOOH - you should make Lady Fingers! You know...since he eats people!"

So I decided to make a yummy dessert that used Lady Fingers in the recipe. After wasting at least 30 minutes roaming the aisles of Target and Acme for a 3 ounce package of Lady Fingers as my recipe called for, I threw my hands in the air and decided to make the Ice Cream Pie from the side of the Whoppers Candy container. It was actually quite tasty, and if you're a fan of Whoppers, I highly recommend trying it! For dinner, Brooke made very tasty chili and cornbread - and even though it wasn't a chilly day outside, I thoroughly enjoyed the dinner!

On to the reviews...

Silence of the Lambs
Picked by: Dave
Why Picked: A classic movie the wife needed to see.







Brooke: Two thumbs up!
A great scary movie - well, my kind of scary movie. I have seen this movie a couple times, but I never noticed the captain from Monk and the lesbian from Grey's were in it!

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
I really like the way the story leads you in many directions. It's a movie to make you think, do FBI women wear pearl earrings?

Steph: Two thumbs up!
"Put the fucking movie on your list!" (spoken in the tone of "put the fucking lotion in the basket!") I loved this movie! Simply cannot wait to see the others (Manhunter, Red Dragon, etc.). I cannot believe that I didn't see this movie until now. Right up my alley! And how about Dr. Haan?!?

Dave: Two thumbs up!
A great psycho thriller that will keep your attention until the very end. Best line in a movie "I'm having an old friend for dinner"

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
I've caught this movie on TV two or three times, but apparently I never saw about the first 30 minutes of it before! This is a great film - keeps me on the edge of my seat most of the time. Of all the movies in the lists that I have seen before, I think I was most excited to see this one make Dave's list.


Memento
Picked by: Steph
Why Picked: "Because I remembered watching it several years ago and being baffled. I thought it would be a good movie to watch in a group and discuss.








Brooke: One thumb up, one thumb down.
So........who was that guy?

Chuck: One thumb up, one thumb down.
I like the way the movie goes in parts from end to start.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
Definitely kept my attention and I think I got it figured out. Who knows. My ADD is making it hard to focus on the facts and the sequence of everything.

Dave: One thumb up, one thumb down
What?

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
Wow this is a crazy movie. I have so many questions. The extras on the DVD helped put all the pieces together.

Whenever I watch movies, I'm usually pretty good at noticing some mistakes in filming, like things out of place within the same scene or something that just missed editing. So during this movie, since it is played from end to beginning, I was trying really hard to catch something that didn't add up. And the only thing I noticed is I think when they show the phone number for Teddy on the picture, it's always the same, but when they shot the scene when he writes the phone number on the picture, I swear he writes a different number - 1134 instead of 0134. I didnt want to stop the movie and rewind since 4 other people were watching, so I don't know for sure. At any rate, I really enjoyed this movie. I was getting very sleepy towards the end, but was watching so intently because I didnt want to miss a piece of the puzzle. And at the end, I still was trying to figure it out. It's kind of like watching an episode of Lost - at the end, you think you're starting to figure things out, but it only leaves you with more questions.