Category Archives: passion

14. All of the Harry Potter Movies (2001-2011) They may not have been the best, but the fact that people took the chances to make these great books into movies deserves some recognition. My favorites have to be the first one and the last. Christopher Columbus directed the first one and I thought he did a great job. He even got John Williams to score the main theme, which ended up being persistent throughout the entire series. And the last one, wow, just wow. It has powerful music that matches what is going on the movie. At first I was skeptical of them splitting up the movie, but in retrospect I’m glad they did. I think they did a great job ending the series. And Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint will forever be some of my favorite actors, just because of their dedication to this series.

13. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Watching this made me want to be friends with Batman. Like, I wanted to be there to help him save Gotham when it was in trouble. I knew what was going to happen in the end, and at first I didn’t approve. But as the movie progressed I saw how it kind of needed to happen (well it didn’t, but it makes a nice end to the trilogy). I honestly loved Christian Bale as Batman. Personally I think he is the best that there has been, besides Adam West of course. And surprisingly Anne Hathaway was an awesome Catwoman. And I can only hope that they keep the series going with a Robin series next, because I love Joseph Gordon Levitt and he needs more movies!

12. House on Haunted Hill (1959) I’m going to take a shot in the dark and say not many people have seen this. And that’s sad because I am enthralled with it. It introduced me to the awesomeness of Vincent Price. This is one of those old scary movies that aren’t so scary. The first time you see it you may get a little creeped out. But, the more you watch it the more you start laughing. It’s so bad it’s awesome. And kind of weird. But hey it’s definitely worth your time. I think it adds to the diversity of my movie collection.

11. Goldfinger (1964) Goldfinger is my favorite Bond movie. I probably watched this a thousand times before I was twelve. When I was younger I was obsessed with Sean Connery. And I can understand that because he did a great job. This is also probably why I can’t stand any of the newer Bonds. I felt like Sean Connery gave Bond a suave, classy look. Anyways, Goldfinger was a horribly awesome criminal. He was extremely smart to think to rob Fort Knox. And his sidekick Odd-Job is great. He doesn’t talk and his hat can cut people’s heads off. Lastly, the music is awesome. Shirley Bassett has a fantastic voice and I wish I was like her. Hah.

10. The King’s Speech (2010) I enjoyed this movie because it brought to light what had actually happened. I really appreciated the historical accurateness in the movie and the story that it told. I think what made it even better was the ability to see that even royalty can have simple, common people problems too. People often think of kings and queens as being the perfect person, but clearly they are human just as we are. Colin Firth did an excellent job. I feel like if I had to do that role I’d end up leaving with a stutter too.

9. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) The Hobbit has been my obsession for about 5 months now. I actually went to see it twice in theatres, about 3 days apart. And I have no shame. Thankfully, Peter Jackson did not let me down. I was weary of Martin Freeman as Bilbo at first, but after watching the movie he definitely fit the part. I appreciated the scenery and also the humor that was present. In LOTR there was some mild humor, but in the Hobbit it seemed like there was a bit more humor and everyone knows I definitely love comedy. I’m really excited about the next two movies and hopefully they are just as good as the first. My favorite part of the movie might have just been the music. I’m not going to lie; I walk around campus listening to the soundtrack because it makes me feel majestic. And when the dwarfs sing it gives me goose bumps. If you don’t watch the movie, at least look up the Misty Mountains song by the dwarfs and listen to it. It’s just awesome.

8. Snow White (1937) The one that started it all. Without Snow White, there would be no other princesses. Disney made sure to make the audience hated the Evil Witch, and I think the color scheme they used for her just added to the hatred. Heigh-ho is my absolute favorite Disney song too.  The seven dwarfs and animals provided some fantastic comedic relief. Grumpy and Dopey are my favorite. They kind of both embody me and it’s nice to see I’m not alone, haha!

7. Schindler’s List (1993) Despite the fact that this movie is a total downer, I think that Steven Spielberg executed this film well. It is one of the few movies about the Holocaust that I can really get through. I mean I ball like crazy, but still the fact that it is historically accurate (as much as it can be) makes me happy. It’s nice to know that there were Germans trying to protect the Jews and risking their lives. Ralph Fiennes embodied the role of Amon Goeth. He really made me want to punch him through the screen. If you haven’t seen this, please do so. It’s really informative and leaves a definite impact.

6. The Great Dictator (1940) The only reason this movie is on my list is because of the speech at the end. Charlie Chaplin was amazing. He definitely delivered. It definitely fit the times. If you don’t watch the movie, at least watch the speech. Also, if you want to add some spice to it I found a version on youtube with the soundtrack to Inception playing in the background. It’s kinda creepy how well they go together.

5. LOTR: The Return of the King (2003) I felt that this movie did justice to the entire series. I remember seeing it in theatres, and I actually managed to sit through the entire thing without getting bored. The battles that took place and the struggles that Frodo faced made the audience even closer to the characters. I wanted Frodo to get rid of the ring, I wanted to get rid of Gollum, and I wanted Aragorn to become king. I think for Peter Jackson to create a bond like this to characters through a movie is a pretty awesome feat. And of course, the music was fantastic.

4. Jaws (1975) After watching this movie, I can say that I hate swimming in the ocean. As soon as I see a blip in the water I run to shore. And for a movie to have that much of an impact makes me think it is amazing. I’ve been watching it since I was about 3, I’m probably scarred for life, but I seriously love this movie. My favorite part is when Brody, Quint, and Hooper were drunk on the boat and start singing. My mom and I sing it to each other when we are cleaning the house. What really gets me about this movie is the effect it had on people, like I said. And the music just adds to the creepy factor. Steven Spielberg did another fantastic job with this movie.

3. LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) I know, I’m weird because this movie is higher than the third one, but I’ve got my reasons. For some reason, the beginnings of things are always my favorite. It establishes the characters and sets them off on their journeys. I think this movie paints a picture of Frodo and the other members of the Fellowship and the other movies just build on that. I also like it because the Fellowship is all together, and nothing bad has really happened yet. This movie really made me want to move to New Zealand. I tell people I’m going, they don’t believe me, but I’m serious. It’s just beautiful there and I think that living there will make me think that I’m living in Middle Earth, which is something that I’d like to do. Howard Shore was a music genius with this movie too. The music matched the scenes so well! I listen to it and sometimes think I’m climbing a mountain with the rest of the Fellowship. Without the music, I think the movie would not have been successful as it was. And I love it. So watch it. 😀

2. Star War IV: A New Hope (1977) A New Hope is no doubt one of my favorite movies (obviously). I go around quoting it, often over using the “these are not the droids you are looking for” one. No shame. I love the introduction of Han Solo as well. Harrison Ford fit the role perfectly and made him even more sarcastic. George Lucas was a great director for this movie and just did an amazing job. I really watch this movie like a million times a year (I’ve been having withdrawals since I’ve been here). And of course, this began the fanaticism about the film’s score. A New Hope gave the score a kick start into the world of movie music. It is probably one of the most over-played soundtracks that I’ve known of and I’m okay with that. If you haven’t watched any of the Star Wars movies at least watch this one! You will not regret it. And I bet you’ll end up watching the other five as well, because this one is just that awesome!

1. Psycho (1960) I promise I’m not crazy. Alfred Hitchcock was an extraordinary director. And this movie just illustrates that. People often think that this is a movie about a crazy guy who owns a hotel. But they really look past the fact that this is more of a psychological thriller than a murder thriller. Growing up I was afraid to watch it because I thought that it was going to be gory. One night I sat down next to my mom on the couch and started watching the movie she was watching. I was really fascinated by it and didn’t even get up to get some food (and that’s impressive for me). At the end when I found out it was Psycho I was blown away. I had actually really enjoyed it! The fact that Norman’s mother really wasn’t alive and that he had taken up her role in his life just blew my mind and creeped me out. I was almost immediately obsessed with the movie. I enjoyed that there was little gore, but that there was still the thrill of a scary movie. It’s just interesting to me to think that someone would let a single person dominate their life so much, that they feel they must continue living as them even after they are long gone. And go so far as to stop themselves from being happy because they know that person who used to be in their lives wouldn’t want them to be happy. If you haven’t watched this, you really need to. It’s fantastic, morbid, and just all around brilliant. Alfred Hitchcock did well with this movie and it is my favorite. 😀

Well, that’s it. Hopefully you made it this far. I apologize for rambling, I really love my movies. Maybe I’ve given you some ideas or helped you fuel your procrastination, but either way I hope you enjoyed it. It’s interesting that this semester I started my blog with a Psycho remake blog and I’m not ending my blog with it. I guess it really is one of my favorite movies. With that, stay classy! 🙂

29. Pitch Perfect (2012) If you read my blog a couple of weeks (maybe months I don’t know) ago you would have seen that I wrote an entire blog about Pitch Perfect. Maybe it shouldn’t be this low on the list, but it is still an awesome movie. I loved it because it made me genuinely laugh! And the songs are so catchy! I ended up buying the entire album and I listen to it all the time! If you haven’t seen it, get on the band wagon now and you won’t regret it!

28. Men in Black 3 (2012) I loved this movie, flat out loved it. I wasn’t expecting much from it, but it exceeded any expectations I did have for it. Yes, the first one is good, but this one is awesome too! It incorporates various things that happened in history and to me that is really cool. And also (warning spoiler!) it brings J and K’s relationship to a full circle. It’s really sad and cool at the same time to see that K knew who J was before J knew K. That’s confusing. But seriously, watching the movie will make more sense!

27. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) Well one reason this is here is because it is one of the few anime movies that I actually watch. Another reason is because I love that Christian Bale and Josh Hutcherson voice some of the characters. It has a really awesome story line and I give it my stamp of approval (I know that means a lot to you). Also, Calcifer is my favorite.

26. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) This is a classic. It’s funny and gives a person potential ideas on ways to get out of class! I’m pretty sure most of us can relate to wanting to skip school, especially senior year. And I only wish I could have had such an experience. Another reason this movie is awesome is because of John Hughes, he was really my favorite and I’m kind of sad that he went into seclusion so early. I really like this movie and it definitely deserves this spot!

25. The Breakfast Club (1985) This again, is another classic. I just watched the other day and was cracking up.  I love that all of the characters are able to form friendships despite their differences. This movie definitely sends an important message. And of course, the last scene is by far one of the best endings to a movie. I love the fact that it kind of leaves the future in the hands of the audience. You get a chance to make up your own happy ending for each of the characters. Sorry, but if you haven’t seen this shame on you! 😀 (I say that with love) Also, John Hughes, nothing more.

24. Animal House (1978) John Belushi makes this movie. The other actors help too, but his role is just hilarious. His character actually wasn’t supposed to have as many scenes as he did, but because he was so funny, the producers gave him more speaking parts. Animal House is also a movie that I like to quote. Many of the scenes are just full of comedic genius. Fun fact: Donald Sutherland is in this movie as a professor, and for those of you who don’t know who he is; he is actually President Snow from the Hunger Games.

23. Toy Story 3 (2010) Please don’t judge me for having this where I do. But I hated the second one and wasn’t expecting to love the third one as much as I did. I saw it as the perfect ending to this awesome story. I think it was also cool to put Andy’s life into perspective, as we too, who had grown up with the movie, were going to college shortly as well. It was kind of a nice slap in the face that I would be getting older soon too and I needed that.

22. Home Alone (1990) Christopher Columbus and John Hughes, ladies and gentlemen. Growing up this was another one of my favorite Christmas movies. It also made me be weary of wishing my family away, because I was afraid that I’d get left behind too. And the music in the movie was written by John Williams, who is one of my favorites. I used to fight my dad for the CD so that I could listen to it. Along with Christmas Vacation, this is probably one movie that I’ve seen more than I’d like to admit, especially during times no-where near Christmas.

21. Cinderella (1950) Cinderella was one of my top two favorite princesses growing up, closely tied with Pocahontas. I used to make my mom watch this movie all of the time, and watching it now I know why. It was the most successful movie following Snow White for Disney. And the music is extremely soothing. I listen to it all of the time. Also the colors they used for the animation were extremely interesting to me. There was one scene that I used to watch just because of the colors that were being used. I guess I’m just weird like that.

20. Inglorious Basterds (2009) This movie surprisingly made me laugh. But also be sad at the same time. I thought I wouldn’t like it because I wasn’t the biggest fan of Quentin Tarantino, but after watching this I liked him a lot more. I think what I liked the most was that they were successful in killing Hitler and everyone was happy. In an ideal world, that would have happened, and I guess that is why I liked the movie so much, because it supplied me with a false hope of success (even though I knew it didn’t happen).

19. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) I first saw parts of this movie in my freshman English class in high school learning about the Trojan horse thing, and the Trojan bunny scene was used. I couldn’t believe that I had not known about this movie for such a long time. I immediately went home, watched it, and was in love. My friends and I would often quote it, and in fact still do. There are so many quotable scenes and random things that are funny. It may just be me, but the Monty Python group gets me every time. In fact, I just watched it last night and had to turn it off so I would go to sleep!

18. Forrest Gump (1994) This is another case of the movie contains historical aspects and gets me really excited. And Tom Hanks did an awesome job with the role. It’s also very quotable. It’s probably really high on a lot of watch lists, and it’s there for a reason.

17. The Wizard of Oz (1939) The Wizard of Oz is awesome. And was the first movie to be in black and white and color, kind of trendsetting for the era and that’s pretty cool. The music is amazing. I walk around singing it to myself way too often. Beware of the flying monkeys though, they are really creepy.

16. Star Wars 1-3, 5, 6 (1999, 2002/5, 1980/83) Um. Yeah. If you haven’t seen Star Wars you really need to get on that. It actually astounds me how many people haven’t seen the movies! They are seriously my favorite. Don’t judge me and think I’m some über nerd. Well, maybe I am, but I don’t care because these movies are too great not to watch. The animation that was used to create all of the characters was just amazing for that time period (not so much the newer ones, but the original ones). And John Williams wrote some unforgettable music to match the film. I’m pretty sure every person knows the music when they hear it.  These are some of my favorites, so you better look into them if you haven’t seen them!

15. LOTR: The Two Towers (2002) I promise, I’m not a total geek. I think what gets me the most with this movie is the music. Howard Shore did a great job. But also, the battle scenes, actors, and plot were also amazing. It was extremely well executed and I love it. You have to watch this.

44. Shrek (2001): I love this movie. It’s funny and I love the soundtrack. I remember that Donkey was my favorite character, probably because I was just as annoying as he was. Also, I feel like this was one of Eddie Murphy’s last good movies. Besides the whole Shrek series you don’t really hear much from him. Anyways, everytime I watch Shrek I just end up quoting it for days later. It’s a good movie if you’re looking for some time to kill and want to laugh at some pretty lame jokes.

43. Scooby Doo (2002): So, if you read my blog a couple of weeks ago, you saw how much I loved Scooby Doo, and because of that it is without a doubt that it would be on my list somewhere. It really isn’t my favorite movie, but I still think that they did an excellent job of casting actors that matched the cartoon characters. The only thing that I can say I didn’t like was the fact that Scrappy Doo was the villain. But other than that I approve, and everyone should look into watching it.

42. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989): The first time I saw this movie I had no idea what to think of it, probably because I was in like the fourth grade. I finally saw it again last year, and it was hilarious. I’m kind of a history buff and the inclusion of all of the historical people made me really excited. And the fact that they were so dumb just made it even better. If you haven’t seen this movie, look into it. It has a young Keanu Reeves in it. Haha.

41. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971): Well, let’s just say this was one of my favorite movies when I was younger. I think my mom was freaked out by it because she wouldn’t buy it, soevery couple of weeks when I went to my best friend’s house I’d ask if we could watch it. I still like it a lot. Gene Wilder did an awesome job matching the character of Willy Wonka. And this one was definitely better than the 2005 version. Also, it made me wish that I owned a chocolate factory, just so that I could have a candy room. It is such a good movie, minus the creepy factor. The boat scene still bothers me and the fact that the audience is never reassured that the other kids are still alive. But other than that it is one of my favorite movies.

40. Rush Hour (1998): This happened to be another movie I stumbled upon on HBO when I was home one summer. I was surprised that I actually liked it. I still watch it today and crack up at the drop of a hat. Jackie Chan makes the movie. And so does Chris Tucker. I wasn’t expecting much, but I really enjoyed it. And fun fact, my fifth grade teacher’s brother was the film editor, which was actually the only reason I ended up watching the movie. So don’t hold yourself back, seriously go watch it and get in some good laughs!

39. Star Trek II:  The Wrath of Khan (1982): I grew up watching Star Trek because my mom was a huge fan, and I really can’t blame her. She has several go to movies and this is one of them, naturally it has become one of my go to movies now. But the bad part is, if I watch one I have to watch the ones after it, but I’m okay with that. Anyways! This is a great movie. William Shatner was brilliant, especially in the scene when he just yelled, “KHAN!!!” And the fact that Spock risks his life to save everyone else. (Sorry for ruining it. :S) And the version of Amazing Grace that is played at his funeral is one of my favorites. It’s so moving and definitely sets the tone for the scene. Before you judge me for being weird, stop yourself and go watch the movie. It is worth it.

38. The Birds (1963): Alfred Hitchcock is my favorite. I could watch anything by him and be amused for days. These are the kind of horror movies that I like. It’s a bit gory and so creepy, but that’s what makes it. After watching it the first time I was petrified of birds. Actually I still am, but hey who cares, it’s a great movie!

37. A Christmas Story (1983): This is the classic Christmas movie that is extremely appropriate for any time of the year, especially during TBS’ 24 hour marathon on Christmas Eve. Something about the whole atmosphere just establishes a homie feel when you watch it. If I watch it early in the year, it makes me want Christmas, just so that I can experience my family and our wacky happenings. My favorite scene is the “Black Bart” scene. I always quote it and no one knows what I’m talking about. But that’s okay because I do. Haha and there are so many other quotable scenes in this movie that are great. This is definitely one of my favorite Christmas movies.

36. Live and Let Die (1973): This James Bond movie is interesting to say the least. The whole voodoo, tarot card thing is different and new to me. And this is probably the reason that I love the movie so much. Another reason I like it is because two times in the movie there is a traditional New Orleans parade where at first the people are all sad and blues music is playing, and then they stop, and start dancing and are happy. I fell over laughing the first time I realized what was going on. It is really sometimes the only reason that I watch the movie. It made me want a funeral like that. Haha, sorry that’s morbid, I know. But, other than that it’s a good movie, and come on, who doesn’t like a good, old 007 movie?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQUs8RlsQ14

35. Grease (1978): Hello, John Travolta! I wish he would have just stayed that young forever. And this is on the list because it’s been my favorite musical since I was about 4. Back then I didn’t quite understand all of the references, but now I do and that kind of makes the musical hilarious. What makes it even better is that the music is so catchy. I could not watch the movie for a year and then be able to know almost all of the words. And then it gets stuck in my head for days afterwards.

34. Christmas Vacation (1989): This is another one of my favorite Christmas movies. When I was home my dad and I would watch it about once a month. My mom would ask us if something was wrong if we didn’t end up watching it. I guess it’s my favorite because it incorporates comedy and Christmas. Again, it’s one of those movies that I go around quoting and no one knows what I’m talking about. Besides the crude comedy, there are some good family values that come around. Eventually. And Johnny Galecki was Russ in this, and if you don’t know who he is, he is now playing Leonard on the Big Bang Theory. That made me really excited when I came to that realization.

33. Dead Poet’s Society (1989): I had always heard about this movie, but never watched it. Finally, my junior year of high school my English teacher showed it to us and I was forever in love with it. At first, I wasn’t sure how to handle a serious Robin Williams; he always was the comedic character in most of the movies he was in. But, he ended up surprising me a lot! Not only does it have a great plot, but the music is awesome too. It’s kind of solemn, but it completely matches the movie. You should definitely look into watching this because it’ll be worth your time.

32. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984): Again, don’t judge me. I grew up with this and I love Spock. Seeing him progressively get older, at a fast rate was pretty cool. And it’s nice to see the connection between Spock and Kirk. And it provides a sort-of happy ending that makes it better than the second movie.

31. Toy Story (1995): If you haven’t seen Toy Story you really need to reevaluate your life. I’m kidding… Kind of. This is such a great movie and it makes your imagination broaden. I know it made me wonder if my toys were talking to each other every day when I wasn’t around. And it was Pixar’s first computer animated movie that really got their business started. It revolutionized how cartoon movies were made and what went into them.

30. The Dark Knight (2008): Something about the Joker attracted me to this movie a lot. I don’t know if it was because he was played by Heath Ledger, or if I just thought he was hilarious (at points). In all it was put together well and the action scenes were pretty intense. And Heath Ledger did an awesome job as the Joker, as did Christian Bale as Batman. And of course the music is great too! I love listening to it when I’m walking because it makes me feel cool, like I’m Batman or something. Anyways, it’s awesome and you should watch it if you haven’t.

Next week I’ll be doing 29-15! I’m almost done! Woo! Haha

59. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946): I’m kind of ashamed that this is so low, but I guess it just isn’t one of my favorites. But, all of that aside, I love the message of the movie. And for some reason I like how it is set-up. If you haven’t seen this movie, you need to! It incorporates many elements such as humor, sadness, and happiness. Such a nice thing! Haha. But really, go watch it.

58. Full Metal Jacket (1987): When I first saw this movie I was a little blown away. I’ve always heard stories of Vietnam, but never saw everything in action. And when I saw this movie it was a mildly, rude awakening. I mean, things were probably exaggerated, but still, this is an intense movie. I think it did a great job showing the effects of war on soldiers in particular. It is definitely worth your time.

57. Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005): I remember in 6^th grade reading this book and going to see the movie in theatres. Surprisingly I liked the movie more than the book. The animation of Aslan and all of the others were done extremely well. Also, the music is awesome. The battle scene is my favorite and is one of the best parts of the movie.

56. Apocalypse Now (1979): This is another one of those war movies. And I’m not going to lie, the only reason I like this movie is because of the opening sequence. It begins with The Doors song, The End, which just happens to be one of my favorite songs. Yeah, there is also a good story to go along with it, but the opening scene just totally draws me in. Again, it shows some backstory, that is falsified, but still the conditions are similar to what the soldiers were being faced with. It’s kind of chilling, if you ask me.

55. West Side Story (1961): This is one love story that I kind of approve of, minus the depressing ending. The dancing in the beginning is fascinating. The guys there are better than I am at dancing. And the music, it’s so catchy. I often find myself walking around my house snapping and singing the prologue song. But, there is also a sad part of this movie that exemplifies that it isn’t simply a musical, but also makes a societal statement of the time, addressing the racial tensions that were present during this era.

see. I can’t do that. haha

54. The Hangover (2009): It is sad how often I quoted this movie after it came out. I went so far as to memorize all of the lyrics to Stu’s Song. Not only is the movie full of hilarious things, but the cast did a great job at making them even funnier. Personally, Alan is my favorite; he’s a bit weird, but definitely the best. If you’re looking for a good laugh and have an interesting sense of humor then this is definitely a movie to watch. Also, you should watch it before you head to Las Vegas just to make sure you avoid anything like what happens in the movie. But, don’t watch the second one; it is nowhere near as good as the original.

53. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003): Pirates is another case of a movie that I love for its music. There is also an interesting story, with an intertwined love story and some comedy. And who doesn’t love Johnny Depp? If you haven’t listened to the soundtrack, you definitely need to do that. When my dad had a boat a couple of years ago, he would play the main theme song when we were going fast on the lake. Haha, so I guess you could say that the music makes you feel like you are experiencing the movie first hand.

52. Men in Black (1997): My reason for this movie is Will Smith. He makes this movie. I mean, yes Tommy Lee Jones adds the dry humor, but Will Smith helps that and adds even more comedy. I love Will Smith, and I think this movie is one of the reasons why. He is so sarcastic and I love it. I could always live without the spewing alien guts, but I’ll come back to the movie for a good laugh.

51. The Avengers (2012): Holy cow, this movie. It is just like a huge collaboration of some awesome superheroes. I also find it interesting how Captain America adjusts to the difference of the era. It’s just funny. This movie satisfies the need for a comedy and an action film all in one. It’s definitely worth your time.

50. Caddyshack (1980): I probably saw this movie at an age when I shouldn’t have seen it, but nonetheless it is still great. It is another movie that I quote a lot when my brother or dad is around. Also, it’s one of the few movies that the three of us can agree on. Caddyshack is chalk full of great comedy. There is a scene with a car horn and I’ve always wanted that sound for my cars horn. But anyways, a lot of people haven’t heard of it. And if you haven’t it is a film that circles around a golf course and the various people who are playing on it. You need to watch it. No questions. 🙂

49. Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012): The book was amazing, and I only expected the best from the movie, and it didn’t disappoint. It actually made the book even sadder. I cried when I read the book, but I ended up balling during the movie. I guess seeing everything in “real-life” makes it more personal. Anyways, it’s a great movie and an interesting perspective. I think everyone really needs to consider seeing this movie or even reading the book, or both!

48. Scream (1996): Scream is one of my favorite tacky scary movies. Although, it slightly bothers me that Matthew Lillard is one of the bad guys and also happens to play Shaggy in the real life movie. Other than that, it was a movie that scared me when I was younger, but as I got older I started to laugh at it. I think that is because I see how predictive the movie actually is. In all, this is one of the few, and I mean few, horror movies that I actually approve of.

47. The Hunger Games (2012): Another case of the book was better than the movie, but the movie was still acceptable. I love Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. I think that the both embody their characters, and are also hilarious people in general. It’s kind of a messed up idea, the plot it, but it is still really intriguing. Go watch! I can’t wait for Catching Fire!

46. Star Trek (2009): I was slightly skeptical when I first saw a promo for the movie, but after seeing it I was impressed. The way that the producers and casters matched the new actors to their older counterparts was amazing. Each of the characters embodied the original character to a T. My mom is kind of a hard core Trekkie and she even approved of the movie. Also, I almost forgot, Leonard Nemoy’s role makes this movie. I must admit I was sad that Shatner didn’t come back too, but the producers had to do what they needed to in order to appease the Trekkie population. All in all, this is a great movie with an awesome plot, and fantastic actors!

45. Jurassic Park (1993): If you haven’t seen this movie, then shame on you. Go to the theatre sometime soon and see this movie in 3D. Seriously. It’s awesome and mildly creepy. The dinosaurs always scared me when I was younger (go figure), but I just watched the movie again a couple of weeks ago and I just thought “wow, that was awesome” and I wish that a real Jurassic Park existed, without the faulty dinosaurs that eat people. Another reason for the awesomeness of this movie is the music. Let’s be serious here, who doesn’t love John Williams? So good. Go see this movie now if you haven’t or if you have maybe you should check it out in 3D and get some dinosaurs jumping in your face!

Come back next week for 44-30!! 

After a few weeks of watching basically the same movie twice, I’ve decided to switch it up a bit. Instead of comparing remakes to their originals, I’m going to create a list of my 75 movies everyone needs to see before they die. Now this isn’t going to follow any specific criteria, it’s just based off of how I feel about the movie. I guess what you could say are factors would be whether or not it was funny, does it have a good soundtrack, interesting plot line, and so on. With each title I’ll give a brief explanation for my choice/ranking. And with that here goes nothing!

75. The Master of Disguise (2002) – It’s funny. And who doesn’t love Dana Carvey. That is really all that is good about the movie. Also, the Turtle Club scene was probably one of the most quoted scenes by me when I was younger. There’s not a good plot, but the jokes given are funny. Even 11 years later.

74. Waterboy (1998) – Again, this one is all about the laughs for me. I’m a pretty simple person and stupid things like this movie get me.

73. Casablanca (1942) – This is a nice, but sad love story. I’m going to be honest and say I was short one movie and I asked my mom and she said this one. I always liked Sam the Piano player though. Also it’s pretty cool that it was tied into what was going on at the time.

72. The Producers (1968) – There is a great plot line to it and it’s not your typical plot. Instead of the main characters being the good guys, they are actually the bad guys! And this sounds bad, but Springtime for Hitler is a pretty catchy song.

71. Just Go With It (2011) – Another weird Adam Sandler movie, but it’s a good rom-com. And that is right up my alley. I personally hate sappy love stories like The Notebook. It was a rom-com that was well structured and had a happy ending.

70. Saving Private Ryan (1998) – It’s a pretty compelling story. I’m a history buff so stuff like this really interests me. And also who doesn’t love Tom Hanks and Matt Damon?

69. The Sound of Music (1965) – Another awesome story. There is kind of a happy ending, I mean as happy as it probably could be considering the situation. Also, the songs are catchy and get stuck in my head way too easy. And it just adds to the reasons that Julie Andrews is a great actress/singer.

68. Last of the Mohicans (1992) – Ok, I’m going to be honest with this one, the only reason this is on the list is because of the music. It completely matches the movie and is just amazingly composed. Yeah, there is a nice love story there, but really I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the last 10 minutes of the movie more times than I have the entire movie. Whoops. Just a forewarning if you haven’t seen it, it’s kind of sad at the end, so be prepared.

67.  E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) – Another music case. To be quite frank, ET scared me when I was younger and it always made me cry when he got left behind and when he left Elliot. So that right there means I maybe watch it once a year, but it is still worth watching. ET does some pretty funny stuff and it’s a cool concept to think about.

66. Grown Ups (2010) – Again, I apologize, but it’s another tacky Adam Sandler film. But for some reason I really like this movie. When I first saw it I had low expectations, but it turned out much better. It is one of those cases that I was genuinely laughing, alas at stupid jokes, but I was still laughing.

65.  The Great Gatsby (1974) – This is my favorite book. Yeah, they didn’t do as well as I could have done (haha), but it was still nice to be able to visually see the story. I think in a book you can get connected with characters, and that connection is aided by seeing them on screen, if it’s good. And there is a remake coming out, which I’m more excited about than I should be. 😀

64. The Infidel (2010) – This is a movie that I’d imagine no one has heard of. It happened to be on HBO a couple of summers ago and I was captivated. It’s about a man who was raised Muslim, but finds out later in life that he was actually adopted and born Jewish. It is a funny take on how someone handles the situation. He actually goes to a man to teach him how to be Jewish. It is definitely worth your time.

63. Clue (1985) – I grew up playing the game when I was younger and when I found out there was a movie I was ecstatic. It chalk full of great comedy. It is also great because it has Tim Curry in it, who I think can be such a versatile actor. And because it brings the game to life it is a good watch. There is such a plot twist at the end I was not expecting it, but I approve of it very much.

62. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) – This is another rendition of a great book. Again, there are some discrepancies, but it is such a good story that that doesn’t really even matter. Gregory Peck portrayed Atticus exactly as I thought he would be and when an actor is able to do that my respect level for them is off the charts. If you haven’t read the book then shame on you, do it and then go watch the movie.

61. Sweeney Todd (2007) – HOLY COW SNAPE CAN SING! When this movie first came out I thought “Eh, that’s cool, a bit gory whatever”, but when I found out that Alan Rickman was in a movie with Johnny Depp I kind of died. It is such a good movie, all the blood and murder aside. I think it’s an excellent example of what lost love can drive a person to do. And Alan Rickman and Johnny Depp sing together, and do so well.

60. Little Miss Sunshine (2006) – LMS is another movie that people probably haven’t seen or even heard of. I appreciate because it shows that life is always what it seems, but you can definitely make the most of it. It is also cool because it is one of the first movies that Steve Carell is in and it reveals a completely different side of his skills. Whereas he is usually funny, in this movie he is downright straight forward and depressed. It’s surprisingly hilarious at points and sometimes it tugs at your heart, but it is definitely worth watching.

Well, sorry for rambling and repeating words, but I really do love all of these movies. Tune in next week for 59-45! 🙂

Unfortunately I’ve run out of time to watch any remakes for this week. So, instead I’m going to just talk about how good the movie Pitch Perfect is. Hopefully everyone has seen it and if not you need to get on that!  (There is a potential for spoilers.)

I remember sometime last fall seeing the promos for the movie and thought it would be funny. Sadly, I did not make it to the theatres to see it there. I ended up waiting until it was available on-demand and watched it when I went home for winter break. After watching this movie I realized that it was the first movie in a very long time that made me genuinely laugh. I mean, when I watch movies I chuckle, but it’s more of an “I’m going to open my mouth, but no audible sound will come out”, when I was watching Pitch Perfect though I was cackling, to say the least. There were some hilarious jokes that were right up my alley. One of my favorites was when Bender was insulting Fat Amy and then asked her to make out with him and she replied, “I sometimes think I can do crystal meth, but then I think, hmmm, better not.” Small gems like that make the movie so awesome.

As for the actors, I was surprised that they were actually singing. It was still auto-tuned a bit, but not as much as I was expecting. And Rebel Wilson was definitely a scene stealer. Every time she was on the screen I was laughing. Anna Kendrick at first made me kind of nervous, I wasn’t sure how I was going to like her, but after watching the movie my view of her is completely different. I loved how sarcastic her character was; well I just loved how sarcastic everyone was! And Skylar Astin has been added to my list of future husbands.  🙂 Before this movie I had no idea who he was, but now it seems his fame has gone through the roof and he was just in the movie 21 and Over. Overall, the cast did a great job!

Everyone needs to watch this movie. It is on my list of 100 Must See movies.(which just gave me an idea to make that my blog for the next couple of weeks!) And this isn’t just because it’s funny, but it’s also a pretty good plot line and has some catchy music to go along with it. I’ve attached some clips that just briefly highlight the awesomeness of this movie! 😀

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhTOs6tx62U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5oIorP3ruo

I was sitting in my dorm the other day thinking of what movies I could look at next and was ashamed of myself for not thinking of this one first. I’m pretty sure that watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was an integral part of a lot of people’s childhoods. I remember I was so excited when I heard that they were remaking it and calling it Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Similar to most things, nothing can really beat the original, but that doesn’t mean that the second movie was horrible.

Gene Wilder

Johnny Depp

A lot of people weren’t impressed by the remake of the classic movie when it was released in 2005. Quite frankly, I thought that Johnny Depp made Willy Wonka more of a creep than Gene Wilder did, but other than the creep factor I’d say that they were both pretty good. The music from both of the movies is extremely catchy, well at least in my opinion. I also like how the same story line was there, but the newer one seemed to be more modern and was its own in a way. Both movies did a great job at getting the audience to hate the other kids. Giving them each a background story established them and made the audience not like them.

I guess the biggest differences were who was casted and the presence of Charlie’s father. The original had Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, whereas in the 2005 version it was Johnny Depp.  I think they both did a good job portraying the role, despite the fact that Depp added a pedophile affect to the role. I think compared to the original the biggest difference with the casts is that the cast from the newer movie has some more fame. It seems to me that most of the cast in the original, besides Gene Wilder, were one hit wonders as actors. And with the newer movie, there were a lot of well-known actors in it. For example, there was Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Freddie Highmore, and Christopher Lee. (Fun fact- Freddie Highmore is going to be in a new show called Bates Motel, staring as a young Norman Bates from Psycho, sorry I’m excited) The only big difference I saw between the movies was the presence of Charlie’s dad. I think with him not being there in the original it creates more of an empathetic stance towards Charlie. And with the new one it shows his dad as being the main bread-winner and his mom staying home. That really was the biggest difference in the plot.

One area where both of the movies could be better is in the fact that there are some parts that are flat out scary. For instance, in Willy Wonka the scene where they are going through the tunnel and Wonka is saying all of this random stuff freaked me out when I was younger. Actually it still scares me a bit. Also its creepy that you never see what happens to the kids. I mean, that is sticking to the beliefs of Roald Dahl where he believes that bad kids get punished, but it’s also mildly disturbing because it’s kids that are disappearing. And for the newer version, the part where Veruca Salt is attacked by the squirrels is also kind of freaky. But other than those scenes the movies are pretty child friendly.

In all, they are both pretty good movies. They are each unique in their own ways. If you haven’t watched either of them or read the book you definitely need to do so. It will be worth your time! 😀

Here is the clip of the creepy boat ride

and also one of the best scenes from the movie

and a clip from the newer movie

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a Scooby Doo fanatic. It’s actually kind of sad. Putting that aside though, this week I decided to focus on the differences between the original Scooby Doo shows that began in 1969 compared to Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated that was released in 2010. Now since I grew up watching the original series, I’m going to say upfront that I am definitely biased.

This is me and Iwao Takemoto, who was a producer for Scooby Doo. And probably one of the highlights of my life. 🙂

Regarding the plot lines, the two shows are pretty similar. You’ve got your typical crime followed by a search for whoever did it. The newer show though added more to the backgrounds of the characters. They all have parents who don’t approve of their crime solving tendencies. I saw a commercial for it the other day and was just blown away. I got used to the idea that the kids had parents, but they just weren’t in the picture. It’s different to see them interact with their parents.

I guess my biggest problem with the series is the animation. It’s just weird. Now, the original had no A+ in the animation category, but the new series just looks weird. I also feel like the animators are going for a more retro approach. It just rubs me the wrong way. But like I said, I am extremely biased because I am in love with the original. I just don’t like that they completely changed how the characters interact or look. In the new series it actually goes into the relationship between Fred and Daphne and apparently they got engaged. Whereas, in the original you knew they were into each other but that was it, there was no onscreen romance. Another thing changed was Scooby’s role. I noticed that in the new series he talks much more than he has in any other series before this. One other thing that really got me was that they changed the name of their town. It was originally Coolsville and now it is Crystal Cove, you just can’t do that! Haha! On a positive note, the new series does keep Frank Welker as the voice for Fred (who was also the original voice of Fred and has been ever since) and he also has taken over Don Messick’s role as Scooby Doo. And Matthew Lillard, who voiced Shaggy in the live action film, has become the voice for him now in the animated show, which I think was a good choice because he sounds what someone would imagine Shaggy to sound like.

Overall, the moral of this blog is I don’t do well with change, especially to something as awesome as Scooby Doo, Where Are You? If I were a kid growing up with the new Scooby Doo I’d probably love it just as much as I did the original. So, if you’ve got some free time head on over to Cartoon Network of Boomerang and give each of these shows a watch. When it’s all said and done you really can’t go wrong with Scooby Doo. 😀

PS I just watched a clip, and apparently Shaggy and Velma are having some sort of secret relationship! Again, it just bothers me. I guess it’s a good thing, but now that’s making Scooby the awkward third wheel and they should definitely bring him in a friend, or even reintroduce Scrappy Doo! Sorry I’m just looking for clips and found this one! The second link is a full episode.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBKiLqkXDXM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPZq8s-XCRU

Also here is a classic clip from the original!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1ZzdS7JF3c

With the release of “Oz the Great and Powerful” around the corner, this week I’ve decided to take a look into “The Wizard of Oz”. Now you’re probably thinking “This girl is crazy, there aren’t any remakes!?” sorry but you’re wrong. 😀 There are so many different interpretations of L. Frank Baum’s interesting book. Most people know about the 1939 version starring Judy Garland, so I’ve decided this week to compare it with the 1978 version entitled “The Wiz”.

Now, both of these movies follow the same plot line, with some minor differences. They both have Dorothy, the witches, the Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Man. But the main difference is that The Wiz adds an African American influence to the mix.  Its producers had the goal of illustrating the African American experience in the Wizard of Oz. In the 1939 version Dorothy lived on a farm, but in the 1978 version Dorothy was a school teacher who lived in Harlem. Of course the differing backgrounds for each of the movies allowed for different renditions of the songs to be created. Personally I found this to be awesome. A lot of the Wizard of Oz remakes feature the same old songs from 1939. But The Wiz created new songs that are just as catchy as the original music.

From an acting perspective both are pretty good. I mean, I am very biased because growing up the Wizard of Oz was my favorite movie. But The Wiz starred Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, both of whom were/are very influential African American artists. In my opinion, nothing beats the original. But this remake is definitely worth your time. It is funny, energetic, and a bit quirky. Everyone should definitely see both of these movies. If you haven’t seen the Wizard of Oz, shame on you. Just kidding, but really you should see it. And everyone should watch The Wiz because it is also pretty cool too! Fun fact about the Wiz; this weekend at THON the Blue Band is going to play a song from the movie! And if you went to either the Temple or Wisconsin game it might sound familiar to you (it was part of the halftime show those weeks). Anyways, this blog isn’t too informative on the movie because I don’t want to give too much away. The Wiz is available on Netflix and if you really want to watch the Wizard of Oz it is probably on YouTube. You should definitely watch both of them! Here are some YouTube clips from each! 😀

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjyJ_ZUEMEw&feature=youtu.be&t=25s

This clip seriously gets me every time. It’s the song that Blue Band is doing. But it’s also just really funny to sit back and laugh at and the song is way too catchy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aopdD9Cu-So

And this scene is probably one of the most quoted by me. I have a tendency to shout it whenever it is raining! And it’s funny too.

top is uk, bottom us

This week, instead of focusing on movie remakes, I decided to take a look at TV remakes. In 2008, a production company out of the UK picked up a show titled “The Inbetweeners”. After 3 short seasons, the show was put on hiatus. This past year, MTV decided to make their own version of the same name. This was a bad choice for MTV because the show was dropped and cancelled after one season. The basic plot line is the story of a new kid who tries to fit in and ends up finding three new friends. His new friends are neither part of the cool kids nor part of the nerds, they are simply inbetweeners.

This show is a simple case of “the original was 10 times better than the remake”. For me, humor is so much funnier when it is in a British accent. The story line was original, as were the characters. The US version kind of killed it. The show’s producers didn’t even try to add their own touch to the show. A lot of the episodes had the same story lines as the UK version. A few episodes were different than the original, but most were the same story with different people and different accents. I felt like MTV picked up the show because they saw how well it was doing in the UK. They probably believed that by broadcasting the exact same thing in the US they would get extremely high ratings, but that was not the case. The UK version lasted for at least three seasons (it is unknown whether or not they are going to come back) and the US version lasted for approximately three months. Overall, the original was so much better. And again, the accents just added ten bonus points to the UK, for some reason it made all of the jokes a little classier. If you’re into crude comedies then this is definitely a show to watch and I recommend it. (and if you aren’t into that sorry, instead you should watch NCIS because it is awesome too! :D) The UK version is available on Netflix, and the US version is available on MTVs website. The UK version was also followed with a movie, which I have yet to see, but it must be good because it has become the UK’s top grossing comedy ever. So if you’re bored and looking for a chuckle you should definitely check it out (but if you can avoid the US version, it’s just bad). And that is my two cents regarding “The Inbetweeners”. 😀