Titanic

Title: Titanic (1997)
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet
Rank: 83

It's no surprise to see Titanic on AFI's list. Not only is it an outstanding movie about a tragedy that many people have a deep interest in, but it is also a beautiful love story. Titanic changed the face of Hollywood, setting new standards for the way films were made from that point on.

Essentially, the film is two stories that intertwine together, on real and the other fiction. There is the real story of the sinking of Titanic- the tale of living through the event, the passengers who died, and the legends that will live on forever. Just a few years shy from the 100th anniversary (April 14, 1912-April 14, 2012) of the actual sinking, and the story is still just has powerful and saddening as it was back then. It was an event that shook the world, and rattled the confidence that mankind had in itself. Deeming the ship "unsinkable" only to have it flounder on its first voyage was a hard reminder that we are not the most powerful force on earth, and that the beauty of nature should never be underestimated. It was also a wake-up call for a society that based status and worth completely on the amount of money each family had. After Titanic sank, stricter safety regulations were implemented for the sailing world, now making it mandatory to have enough lifeboats for all passengers aboard each vessel.

The other story is that of the fictitious romance. Jack and Rose are basically Romeo and Juliet- they come from two vastly different worlds, not supposed to love each other, and they don't end up together in the end due to death. Most people are suckers for a good "Romeo and Juliet" story, myself included. Many people fantasize about the ultimate love, one in which there is nothing that is capable of tearing the lovers apart from each other. Seeing a tale of ultimate romance on the screen allows the viewer to live vicariously through the characters.

Perhaps one of the most prominent reasons that Titanic is on AFI's list is the affect it had on the film industry. Titanic had an astronomical budget of $200 million, but because of the success of the film it is common for major many films these days to have budgets that reach in the hundreds of millions. It also brought the "blockbuster" status higher- instead of reaching $100 million to be deemed a blockbuster, films now have to hit the $200 million mark* to earn that title. Titanic was also the film that brought Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio up to A-List star status, and it also paved the way for films that were less star-driven. These days, moviegoers are more attracted to the concept and story rather than the headlining names. (Which is great news for those of you who are beginning acting careers out there- Hollywood is always looking for new talent. There are tons of Hollywood movie-makers who are eager to discover the next big star!)

It would be a crime to not mention director James Cameron's current box-office feat, Avatar, in this post. Once again, Cameron has changed the face of movie-making, having put new film technology that he himself developed on the map and making 3-D so much more than a passing novelty. (Of course, this isn't the first time 3-D has been popular, and only time will tell if this time it will become a long-term film feature, like color and sound were back in the day, or just another fleeting trend.) This also marks the end of Cameron's Titanic as reigning champion of highest-grossing film ever, Avatar having passed up the record just this past week. I, for one, am interested to see what James Cameron will bring us in another twelve years. It's no doubt he will once again setting new standards for film making.

*Source: Markovitz, Adam. "Did Titanic change Hollywood?" Entertainment Weekly 22 Jan 2010: 32

Trivia: (source: IMDb.com)
•The studio originally wanted Matthew McConaughey for the role of Jack, but James Cameron insisted on Leonardo DiCaprio. (I can't imagine McConaughey in the role of Jack- he just wouldn't fit the part in my opinion!)
•The scene during the sinking in which water crashes through the glass dome into the Grand Staircase had to be done in one take because the set and all the furnishings would be destroyed in that take.
•Gloria Stuart is the only person who worked on this film who was actually alive when the Titanic actually sank. (She was born July 4, 1910 and will celebrate her 100th birthday this year!)
•James Cameron is currently the director whose films have grossed the most money world-wide, even surpassing the great George Lucas.



Movies to Go: 91

Network

Title: Network (1976)
Director: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall
Rank: 64

There is a great debate on whether people are naturally good and turn evil, or are inherently bad and must over come it to become pleasant and kind. In Network, all of the characters seem to have an easy enough time doing evil deeds. Extra-marital affairs, cheating others for profit, and even murder, all because of television ratings.

It is interesting to see the lengths people will go to gain something for themselves, whether they want power, money, fame, or all three of them. Some people will do anything for success, without regard for the feelings and well-being of others. At one point or another, everyone gets selfish and does things that aren't the most honorable to benefit themselves. It is tempting to do mischievous things to get what we want, and people willing to do those things are not in short supply. Especially with the economy in the state it is right now, there are people who are doing some pretty sleazy things for money, scamming defenseless people who still have trust in humanity.

Lying, cheating, stealing, and all those other sinful doings are, sadly, not uncommon in this world. We tend to not trust others until we get to know them because of personal experiences and stories we hear from others and on the news. It is hard to know who to trust and who not to trust, especially since it is so easy to lie these days- people can become anyone on the internet. (How do you know I am really a 23-year-old woman living in Southern California? For all you really know, I could be a 97-year-old man living in Scandinavia, or even a purple horse who has been given fingers to type and the ability to speak English from a old wizard who owed him a favor. You never really know!)

In Network, everyone speaks with such an eloquent quality and in educated language, even when the scene is intense. There is a scene in which Max Schumacher (played by Holden) tells his wife (played by Beatrice Straight) that he is having an affair. Mrs. Schumacher gives this speech to him, ever so eloquently, and the final line is this: "I'm your wife, damn it. And, if you can't work up a winter passion for me, the least I require is respect and allegiance. I hurt. Don't you understand that? I hurt badly." If I had just found out my husband was cheating on me, I would use much harsher words towards him than "winter passion" and "respect and allegiance." This use of vivid language makes it that much easier for people to do deceptive things. Hitler, for example, was a very good speaker and very convincing of his points, even though the things he did were absolutely appalling. We must be cautious of falling victim to people like this, because it is these people who can sway the most followers and do the most damage.

It often astonishes me to hear about the deceitful things that people do to each other. Sometimes it is hard not to completely lose faith in humanity when we see stories like Network or watch the evening news, but there are still plenty of good people out there. Unfortunately, they don't always get as much attention as the ones who do dirty deeds. Perhaps we need to shift our focus and praise more of the good and leave out a little more of the bad. Think positive, be positive.

Trivia: (source: IMDb)
•Won 4 Oscars (1977): Best Screenplay (Paddy Chayefsky), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Faye Dunaway), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Peter Finch), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Beatrice Straight).
•Peter Finch became the first actor to receive an award in an acting category posthumously.



Movies to Go: 92

~*~Be sure to check out the things that are coming in February, and VOTE to let me know what you want to see! Go here.~*~

New things to come in February!

Hey everyone!

I'm working on "spicing" up things a bit starting in February. Posting only twice a week doesn't seem to offer many opportunities for discussions or thoughts. Doing two movies a week is great, but I want to add more to the project and make it more interesting.

So here's some of my ideas. I don't know yet which ones I'll do, but any feedback, ideas, or comments from you are always welcome.

1) Interviews. What I'm thinking is trying to get interviews from people who are inside the movie business, getting some "Insider Info" about their job, but also their personal opinions and preferences on movies. I'm also thinking about doing interviews with people like YOU- people who are movie fanatics, movie buffs, or just movie watchers. It would be a great way for everyone who wants a more personal involvement in the project to get that. (I'd take volunteers if anyone is interested!)

2) Off-List Movies/2017 List Movies. The former would basically be what I do with the movies on the list, but it would be on movies that are not on the list. It would be both new and old movies, such as Edward Scissorhands and/or Avatar. The latter would be doing movies that would potentially be on AFI's "2017" list (supposing that they continue with the tradition of republishing a list every ten years). If people have a particular movie that they think would end up on the "2017" list, they could send me a message or post a comment with that movie suggestion and I could take it into consideration and possibly post about it here. (All suggestions would be given credit unless the suggester requested to remain anonymous.)

3) Movie Trivia Game. If I add on this one, I would do it once or twice a month and give away a movie-related prize. (Off the top of my head, I'm thinking either movie tickets, DVDs, Blockbuster gift card, or Best Buy gift card as possibilities. I don't have a ton of money to spend, and the cost would be out-of-pocket, but I would be willing to do this if enough people wanted to participate.)

4) Video Posts. This one would depend on how well my computer wanted to comply. What I am picturing for this would be videos of a variety of movie-related things- this idea is still in development, so I don't have anything pin-pointed for this. Perhaps some spoofs of movies in less than a couple of minutes (it would be the ultimate definition of low-budget), maybe some video-interviews with people (as per idea #1), or something with a bit of movie-history. (Again, this idea is still a bit raw, so it'll get a little cleaner later if this is one I decide to go with.)

I am very interested in reader-feedback, if any one is indeed reading this. ;) Any suggestions, preferences on which of my ideas you'd like to see me do, or anything! It is all greatly appreciated.

To make it easier, on the right side of the blog is a poll, and the current poll is about which of these suggestions you would like to see happen. Thank you for reading!

The Wizard of Oz

Title: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Director: Victor Fleming
Starring: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley
Rank: 10

A Brain. Heart. Courage. A place to call home. These are the things coveted by the four yellow-brick-road-trekkers in The Wizard of Oz. Being smart, being a good person, having courage, and having people who love us are common human desires that most of us have. What we often don't realize, like the four characters, is that we already possess these traits inside of us, waiting to flourish.

The Scarecrow wants a brain. There are not very many people in the world who wouldn't want to be smarter. More often than not, it is a matter of applying oneself. If we didn't have brains, we wouldn't be breathing. Like any muscle, the brain needs exercise or it becomes flabby and weak. The more we use our minds, the stronger it becomes.

The Tin Man wants a heart. Deep down, I believe people want to be good. We all want to make a difference in the world, and leave something positive that future generations will remember us by. A good example of this is the situation in Haiti right now- there are people in need, and because of the dire situation, there are thousands of people who are reaching out to help those less fortunate than them. Whether it is by donating time, money, or blood, each little bit helps. (I myself tried to donate blood, but the Red Cross had to deny my donation due to the cancer and chemotherapy I had as a child. I was able to donate a little bit financially, though.) We all want to help others when they are in need, we all have a heart.

The Lion wanted courage. Life isn't easy, and often we have to do things that seem uncertain, and it takes a bit of courage to get by sometimes. People who are brave have the admiration and respect of others, two things that everyone would love to have. Being a valiant person doesn't mean looking for trouble, but facing it strongly when it comes.

Dorothy wanted a way home. What she is really looking for is familial love. No matter how far we may travel or how successful we may become, we still want the love of family and friends and the comfort of a place to call home.

What the four characters don't realize is that they had the things they wanted from the beginning, all it took was a little encouragement from the wizard for them to see that they were who they wanted to be. There is amazing potential in all of us, we just have to learn to tap in to it. So much easier to say than to do, but still entirely possible. People are astonishing creatures. As cliché as this may sound, we are all special. Each of us is a unique individual, and we all have our own interests, passions, and talents. People often don't realize how much potential they truly have, all it takes is a little belief in oneself.

When you put your mind to it, there isn't anything that you cannot do. We all have brains, heart, courage, and loved ones who support us. I firmly believe that the only limits we have are the ones we give ourselves.

Just because I think they are so pretty, I'm sharing with you a picture of the Ruby Slippers.


Movies to Go: 93

Swing Time

Title: Swing Time (1936)
Director: George Stevens
Starring: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Rank: 90

There are a lot of old movies that I absolutely love, but Swing Time isn't one of them. The dancing and the singing are fantastic, and the story is easy to follow, but the plot is not very strong and the main character, Lucky (played by Astaire), is not the best of guys.

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are a fantastic pair on screen, and it is amazing to watch their routine. The singing is beautiful, the dancing is astronomical, and the songs are catchy and fun. Because of their chemistry and fame as an on-screen pair, it is not surprising to see an Astaire and Rogers picture on AFI's list. Swing Time was one of ten films that the duo did together.

The character of John "Lucky" Garnett is a bit of a sleazy guy. He forgets his own wedding to Margaret due to a gambling problem, only to show up hours late when everyone has gone home. Then, he makes a deal with Margaret's father that he'll go to New York to earn $25,000 and come back and marry Margaret once he's proved himself worthy by earning the money. After being in New York for only a few minutes, Lucky meets Penny and becomes instantly smitten with her, following her around. He then proceeds to pursue a romance with Penny, all the while talking behind her back about returning to marry Margaret. He also lies to Penny and says that he is giving up his gambling, only to give in to temptation the first time it arises. At one point, Lucky mentions that he isn't sure if he would rather go back and marry Margaret or stay in New York and be with Penny. In the end, it is only by chance that Penny and Lucky end up together when Margaret confesses that she doesn't really love Lucky. If Margaret hadn't confessed that she didn't really love Lucky, it seems almost as though he would've went through with marrying her.

Even though the plot may be weak, I do have to appreciate the entertainment value of the film. Astaire and Rogers put all their effort into each film that they did, and Swing Time is no exception to that. For the "Never Gonna Dance" routine, everything kept going wrong and it took 47 takes to get it right, and Ginger Rogers' feet actually bled due to the repetition of the intense dancing. Not many people can honestly say they put that much effort into their job!

Movies to Go: 94

Jaws

Title: Jaws (1975)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
Rank: 56

Jaws Theme Song sound bite  Jaws sound bites

Fear. We all experience fear. What makes Jaws so scary is the fact that the antagonist of the film isn't actually doing anything wrong, and since it is acting upon its instincts there is no reasoning with it. If you're swimming nearby and it wants to eat you, you're going to be eaten! There is no begging a shark when they attack, no pleading for mercy, or hoping that it might be a vegetarian. The shark is only doing what it needs to survive, and eating the human swimmers is no different than a giraffe eating leaves off a tree. Except with the shark, it is devastating to the families and loved ones of its victims, whereas few people will grieve over the leaves the giraffe eats. Jaws is on AFI's list because it is so good at playing into fear.

Every person fears at least one thing. Sometimes our fears can be paralyzing and make us act irrationally. Chief Brody (played by Roy Scheider) fears the ocean, and refuses to go in the water or on a boat if he has any other option. When a twenty-five foots shark comes swimming into town, killing any of the leisurely swimmers it can get its jaws on, Chief Brody must take action. With the town council and the mayor working to keep the beaches open with the intention of safeguarding the town's revenue, Brody must take matters into his own hands. Brody faces so many of his own fears while fighting the shark alongside Matt Hooper (Dreyfuss) and Quint (Shaw). It is something that many people admire but seldom have to do- face their greatest fear and overcome it just as Brody did. It doesn't necessarily have to be the fear of a man-eating shark, snakes, or spiders, but it can also be a fear of failure.

The fear of failure is one of the most common fears (next to the fear of public speaking and the fear of dying), and understandably so when you look at it from the surface level. "Failure" is such an ugly word, and the definition (borrowed from dictionary.com) is "a person or thing that proves unsuccessful." No one wants to fail, which is why so many people tend to settle rather than take the risk of failing. It is so easy to want to settle in a career of being a desk-jockey, working the 9-5 hours, doing the busywork the boss gives you, rather than pursue those no-limit dreams we once had as a kid. (There is nothing wrong with a desk job, I only pick on it because I am not made to do it. There is no way I could work at a desk for the rest of my life, but that doesn't mean it isn't perfect for someone else.) I know when I was a kid there were so many things I dreamed of doing- being a famous comedian, being a famous singer, being a famous actress, becoming the CEO of the Disney Company- but over the years the dreams became smaller and much more "realistic." It made me sad, though, that I was denying my true passions and settling for something "easy" in comparison to those fabulous dreams I had when I was younger, and I have reverted back to pursuing one of those teenhood dreams, finally realizing what my passion in life is and ready to be the best I can be. Big dreams take big work, and failure is sure to come, but if you learn something from it and get back up, then it really isn't a failure. It can be hard taking risks- a risk is something that does not guarantee success, and there is always a chance of a failure- but taking risks and persevering through the tough times will all be worth it in the end. I know that I am not cut out to be a desk-jockey: I need change, I need challenge. What I want to do is going to take a lot of work, a lot of time and patience, and a lot of perseverance. I am worried that I will not make it, but I have to take the risk. Pursuing my dream-career is like Brody attacking the Great White shark: there is so much to fear, but it must be done to get the desired outcome. I remember this quote that has always stuck with me: "Courage is not a lack of fear, but action in spite of that fear."

There are several other factors that make Jaws such a great movie, and such a wonderful thriller. Music, of course, is one of those factors. (Another film with music by John Williams, my favorite film composer!) It plays into the fear of the menacing shark, and just hearing the theme song can bring back the memories of watching this movie. Jaws also brings out the fear of the unknown and the unseen- if we cannot see it, we tend to fear it more. Due to the animatronic shark not being so great, most of the shots of it are close up and only of bits and pieces, but it works so well. It makes the imagination go wild with dread. Combine all of these elements to create an amazing consternation within the viewer.

I happen to be afraid of sharks, and I am lucky that the weather is too cold to go swimming because every time I watch this film I can't bring myself to go in the water for a while after. Thanks to an overactive imagination, every time I see a shadow move in the pool after watching Jaws I make a hasty dash for the shallow end!

So tell me- what is your "Great White shark" fear that is holding you back from what you really want?

Trivia: (from IMDb.com)
•When Quint gets a call on the radio while on the Orca, the voice on the radio is Steven Spielberg.
•During filming of Jaws, the animatronic shark was nicknamed "Bruce," although Spielberg sometimes called it "The Great White Turd" when it would malfunction.

Movies to Go: 95

Take A Moment

Most all of us have busy lives, and we all have our own hardships and nuisances. There was terrible traffic. The boss asked you to stay an hour overtime. You missed an episode of your favorite show. Someone cut you off on the drive home. But how big are these things, really? How much trouble do they actually cause in your life?

Right now, there are thousands of people in Haiti who are without food, water, shelter, or clean clothes. There are people who are stuck in the rubble left by the earthquake, uncertain if they will survive another night lost in the remains of what once was their own home. Many people are still missing their loved ones- missing sisters, husbands, mothers, sons, and friends, hoping that fate will show them mercy and they will see those loved ones again. Bodies lay strewn in the streets, some covered in whatever piece of cloth may have been lying around, some just basking in the sun.

Now, traffic doesn't seem so bad, does it? Tuesday I was having a bad day at work- I had a couple of rude callers, and someone insulted me. I came home feeling down, as though it was just so unfair. Then I turned on the news and saw the state of things in Haiti and realized- so what if someone called me a name? Big deal. So what if someone was rude to me? It doesn't make a bit of difference in my life. I'm blessed- I know where my loved ones are, I have a place to sleep, I have food to eat. Sometimes we may take these things for granted, but really we very fortunate to have the things we do.

When it comes down to it, all we truly have is each other. Sometimes we need to reach out and lend a hand, a happy thought, a prayer or whatever we can to help another human being in need. In fifty years, what are you going to remember more about January 2010- it's not going to be the plot of that show you just have to see, it's not going to be how much traffic there was, or how much overtime you had to work, but you will remember that you reached out to help someone, and I assure you that even if they don't know who you are, they will remember it the rest of their life as well. It is a special kindness, a unique love that can be passed. The thing about kindness, generosity, and love is that the more you give them away, the more you will receive.

If you can spare a few dollars, make a donation to the Red Cross by clicking here. If you can't spare any money, then take a moment- Take a moment to reflect on your life, all of the "hardships" that you deal with, and see if they really are as bad as they could be. Say a prayer for Haiti, send them some hopeful vibes, or just think happy thoughts for them- whatever you believe in. Remember what is important in life, remember about love.

Donate to the Red Cross

Do the Right Thing

Title: Do the Right Thing (1989)
Director: Spike Lee
Starring: Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Bill Nunn, John Turturro
Rank: 96

I saw Do the Right Thing when I was a teenager in a History of Cinema class, and from what I remembered from it, I was not looking forward to watching it again. I was actually glad that it came so early in the year so that I could get it done and over with. When I watched it that first time, I walked out of the class feeling low, depressed, and a little dirty. Now, though, after a few years of growth and a little bit of wisdom under my belt, I watched this film with a different perspective. As soon as I saw Do the Right Thing on the list, I told myself that even though I didn't want to see this movie again, that I would watch it with an open mind and try to leave out all of my previous feelings about it.

It is without a doubt that Do the Right Thing will be one of the more intense films on AFI's list. Set in Brooklyn on the hottest day of the year, the subject matter of this movie is as heavy as the temperature is high. It deals with several groups of people- blacks, Asians, Hispanics, Italian-Americans, and one white guy with a stutter, all of whom are mostly portrayed as the utmost stereotypes of their group. It isn't easy to watch this film- there is a lot of anger, hatred, racial slurs, and violence. I am a self-proclaimed egalitarian- I believe in equality for all, that we are all human and no one is better than another. (Some people who do terrible things fall below the human level, but that's a whole other story.) Watching a movie so full of tension was difficult for me, and at times I wanted to shut it off.

The movie has a general orange-yellow color to it, showing the heat of the day and also creating more of an uncomfortable feeling for the audience. Do the Right Thing is blunt about the violence, racism, and hate that exists. Spike Lee (who wrote, directed, and starred in the film) didn't hold back or censor anything, which actually is good. Sadly, racism still exists today, there are still people who do abominable things to another just because of skin color. With all the progress the human species has made in the past one hundred years- splitting the atom, curing so many diseases, amazing technological advances- it's amazing that racism can still be a problem. It is so easy to send a man to the moon, to talk to someone on the internet who lives on the other side of the world, and yet it is still difficult to reach out to a next door neighbor who is a little different from us.

Since this film has brought into light such a difficult and touchy subject so bluntly and forward, I'm going to share something personal that I am very ashamed of: I once held a fear of men of a particular race because of an event that happened to me. A few years ago, I was working as a teller in a bank and one day we were robbed at gun point. The robbers happened to be three young black men, and for a couple of weeks after the robbery, I would always find something else that "had" to be done when a young black man walked into the bank, myself being afraid to help him. It wasn't too long before I realized how irrational and idiotic I was being, and I am very embarrassed that I once held those feelings, even though it was only for a brief period. I know so many people of so many different races, all of them are wonderful people. (I even have members of the family who are black, Asian, and Hispanic! One of my grandfathers even told me that there is African in our bloodline several generations back, among so many other races that run in my veins.) In any group, there will always be good and bad apples. If you were to separate all people into groups- blacks, whites, Asians, Christians, Jews, atheists, blondes, red-heads, homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals, people with curly hair, people with straight hair, smart people, dumb people, beautiful people, ugly people, skinny people, fat people, etc- in each group there would be people who are amazing, kind, and generous and also people who are mean, hypocritical, and manipulative. These traits (whether they are good or bad) don't come from the features that puts them into one group or another, and so it is illogical to base judgments on physical traits.

Thinking about it, though, watching a film like Do the Right Thing can be beneficial. It isn't always a good thing to live in a bubble and deny that violence from racism still happens. The sad truth of it is that there are still people who judge each other all the time based on things that a person can't help, whether it is the color of their skin, their sexuality, their religion, or the shape of their body. It is time we moved past these things, and embraced our differences for the wonderful things that they are. If we were all the same, life would be pretty damn boring. By bringing attention to a situation like this we can move forward to help dissolve the problem. I know it will still be years before racism (or any other negative -ism) is a thing of the past, but one positive step forward is still worth it. Besides, as Confucius once said: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." If we all make a single step, then together we can make that thousand miles.

I'll leave you tonight with this, a quote from Do the Right Thing. Radio (Bill Nunn) is talking to Mookie (Spike Lee), and Radio wears knuckle rings on each hand: on the left, one that says "HATE" and on the right, one that says "LOVE":
Radio Raheem: Let me tell you the story of "Right Hand, Left Hand." It's a tale of good and evil. Hate: It was with this hand that Cane iced his brother. Love: These five fingers, they go straight to the soul of man. The right hand: the hand of love. The story of life is this: Static. One hand is always fighting the other hand; and the left hand is kicking much ass. I mean, it looks like the right hand, Love, is finished. But, hold on, stop the presses, the right hand is coming back. Yeah, he got the left hand on the ropes, now, that's right. Ooh, it's the devastating right and Hate is hurt, he's down. Left-Hand Hate K.O.ed by Love.

Trivia:
•Samuel L. Jackson has a small part as a radio disc jockey, and he is credited as "Sam Jackson."
•Supposedly, President and Mrs. Obama saw this movie on their first date in 1989.

Movies to Go: 96

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (also sometimes known as Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) (1981)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen
Rank: 66

Raiders of the Lost Ark is the ultimate adventure, and I'm pretty sure that is why it is on AFI's list. It has everything: a sexy hero, beautiful and exotic settings, religious legends brought into reality, amazing music, fun dialog, and a terrible enemy.

Set in 1936, Raiders uses Nazis as the enemy. Nazis symbolize an unyielding evil and there are few people who would sympathize with a Nazi or anyone who follows Hitler. They are portrayed as mindless shells of men who are not quite human, have no consciousness of humanity, and are like programmed droids set to do der Fuhrer's bidding. When Indiana Jones fights the Nazis, we feel as though we are right there with him, giving evil a swift kick in the ass.

Spielberg does a fantastic job with this film. His use of shadows is brilliant, almost as though the shadows themselves are their own character. And the music! John Williams, who also composed for Spielberg on Jurassic Park, Jaws, and many other of Spielberg's films as well as composing for the Star Wars series and many other great musical works, has made for the Indiana Jones series some of the most memorable music in Hollywood's history. (He also happens to be my favorite film composer.)

I do believe that Raiders of the Lost Ark is the ultimate adventure, one that I can escape into easily any time I watch the film. The only thing that scares me are the snakes. "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"

Trivia:
•Currently in the works is Indiana Jones 5, and as of now the official title has yet to be released.

Movies to Go: 97

P.S.- Sorry for the delay in posting. I was without internet connection for four days. Looks like you will get a two-fer today because I watched the next movie last night and will hopefully have the post up this afternoon.

Deciphering my Labels...

Just wanted to write a quick note and explain my labels in case you wanted to look through them later on down the line.

All of the movies I talk about will be labeled with "Movie: _____" (the blank being the movie title itself of course).

All of the directors I mention will be labeled with "D: ______" ('D' for 'Director' and the blank being the director's name).

All of the stars mentioned in the posts will be labeled with "A: ______" ('A' for 'Actor/Actress' and the blank, once again, being the person's name).

I will also have it labeled with a few descriptive words about the movie and the decade in which it was made.

Thanks for reading! :-D

Rocky

Title: Rocky (1976)
Director: John G. Avildsen
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith
Rank: 57

Tonight's film was a treat for me, because this was the first time I had ever seen Rocky. Of course, I have seen the shot where Rocky is on the top of the steps in Philadelphia, raising his arms, jumping around, with Bill Conti's "Gonna Fly Now" playing, along with many of the spoofs of it there are out there. (Take a peek at the film version here.)

It is not hard to guess why Rocky made it on to AFI's "100 Years 100 Movies" list. Written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, this film is about inspiration. Rocky comes from nowhere- he is no one special, living nowhere special, doing nothing special. As luck would have it, he is picked to fight in the championship fight against heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. (Creed only picked Rocky to fight because he liked the name the "Italian Stallion.") This is a dream come true for Rocky, and he wants nothing more than to go all the way in the fight.

Even though he doesn't win, Rocky does succeed. He lasts through the entire fight, the winner determined by points instead of a knockout. Rocky is ecstatic about the fact that he gets this opportunity, and completely satisfied with the outcome. The story of it is what everyone hopes for- we all have that "Mount Everest" that we want to achieve, whether it is becoming a record-setting athlete, discovering the cure to a disease, raising kids, becoming a world famous actor, or getting a chance to fight the champion. Most people have a dream, something they want to accomplish in their life, the one thing they want to be remembered for above everything else. It doesn't have to be something has big as becoming the CEO to a worldwide company, but it is something that will define us for who we are. Rocky was the underdog- no one expected him to make it, but he did, defeating the odds. We all believe ourselves to be the underdog at some point or another, and when those times come we have the choice to either let it break us or put in all we've got to overpower it. The only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves.

The amazing thing about dreams is that it is never too late to have a dream, nor is it ever too late to pursue a dream. Rocky is thirty years old when he is given the chance to fight Apollo, having spent more than half his life thinking about this dream but never doing anything about it. When the opportunity presents itself, he takes it and trains as hard as he can, letting the fight take over his life and consume his every thought. He conquers his "Mount Everest" in the fact that he was able to withstand the entire fight and go the distance. To Rocky, winning wasn't the objective, it was withstanding the battle.

Rocky, however, had luck on his side. It was by pure coincidence (and that catchy name) that he was chosen to be the contender in the big fight. Not all of us will have that luck, and we often have to make our own opportunities. In most cases, there is no luck- it is all about persistence. Like the Japanese proverb says "Fall down seven times, get up eight." Any dream takes hard work and perseverance to be welded into a reality, and there will be times when you fall. It may feel like a failure, but as long as you stand back up then it is only a bump in the road. Besides, if you learn something from it, then it really isn't a failure at all.

We all have a dream or two, and nothing is impossible. (Walt Disney once said "If you can dream it, you can do it.") Dreams take work, though, but they are worth all the blood, sweat, tears, and time that go into them. It is never too late to make YOUR dream come true. We only have one life to live, and as Mickey Goodmill said: "You ain't gonna get a second chance."

Movies to Go: 98

Movies Needed

I went through and put all of the movies from AFI's list that I don't own in my queue on Blockbuster.com. They are in a random order, some are listed as "Very Long Wait" so when those reach the top and I'm waiting for them, I'm going to do one of the movies I own on DVD.

The only problem is that there are three movies that are not in Blockbuster's inventory: Duck Soup (1933), Sunrise (1927) and The African Queen (1951). I do have time to find these movies, but I have no idea how tough it is going to be to find them. Perhaps a trip to eBay will be required.

Psycho

Title: Psycho (1960)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin
AFI Rank: 14

Starting off the "100 Movies in 365 Days" project is the classic film Psycho by the infamous Mr. Alfred Hitchcock. I have seen this movie a few times before, although it has been years since my last viewing of it. Tonight, I am joined in viewing this film with my husband Danny and my good friend Kevin, both of whom are also movie lovers.

The theme of this movie comes down to two words: mental health. Being mentally healthy does not just mean being free of mental illness, but being emotionally happy and stable in mind. In the beginning, we see that Marion discovers that she is not as mentally happy as she first appears to be (and maybe she doesn't even realize at first that she is not as happy as she thinks she is). When a client of her boss, Tom, comes in, he talks about being happy vs. being unhappy. He casually throws around $40,000 in cash and says that buying something expensive is "not buying happiness, but just buying off unhappiness." This gets in Marion's head, and she realizes that she's been in the same job for 10 years, is in a seemingly dead-end relationship (her guy, Sam, doesn't want to get married), and doesn't feel like she is going anywhere. Her stealing the $40K is, essentially, attempting to find happiness and mental health by escaping her world and starting fresh somewhere else.

Norman is the character that the movie pivots around. On the outside, Norman appears normal: he is warm, friendly, welcoming, and charming when Marion arrives, but throughout the film it is revealed that he is deeply disturbed inside. It is revealed in the movie that his father died when he was only five years old, and he has no social conduct other than his mom, and he believes that "a boy's best friend is his mother." After his mother died, Norman gave up half his life to give life to her again, having two personalities in his own head. He would even go to the lengths of donning a dress and wearing a cheap wig to impersonate his mother, never realizing that he was doing so. His loneliness and clingy love for his mother drove him insane, and caused the deaths of at least six people.

As human beings, we are naturally programed to be social. We need contact with other humans to thrive. Without that contact, we would become like Norman: socially awkward, immensely lonely, and unbalanced. We don't necessarily need to have hundreds of close friends, but we do need human contact to maintain mental health. Norman lived as a hermit, and it drove him to such desperate desolation that his personality split in two, one becoming his mother, and that other personality would become jealous of the first.

I think this film made it onto AFI's top 100 because of the emotional and psychological depth it reaches to. The film itself examines a dark side of the human mind and brings out the worst when one lives a solitary existence. Norman isn't necessarily the villain in this film (although, arguably it would be the "mother side" of Norman that is) since the psychologist states that "Norman wakes up after 'mother' has taken over as though he's woken up from a deep sleep." He doesn't realize that it is his own doing. Really, he is a victim of a sad situation, one that may feel like eternal emptiness to him.

Of course, I couldn't end my post about Psycho without mentioning the music! Hitchcock himself credited the music to bringing 33% of the film's success. Music is powerful, it can change our emotions and pull them in one direction or another. Most people, even the ones who have not seen Psycho, can recognize the infamous music used in the shower scene. Hats off to Bernard Herrmann for his outstanding musical contribution to a spectacular film.

It's been sixty years since Hitchcock gave us Psycho, and it still sends chills down our spines. Thanks, Alfred, for making us fear the shower.

Trivia: (trivia source: imdb.com)
• Hitchcock bought the rights to the book the movie is based on from the author, Robert Bloch, for only $9,000. After obtaining the rights, Hitchcock bought as many copies of the book as he possibly could in attempt to keep the ending a secret from most people.
•"Psycho" was remade in 1998 starring Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche.

Off Topic Side Note: Please feel free to comment on anything: the blog, the film, the posts. I would love to hear from someone! I am doing this for myself, but it would be great to get a follower or to and have a little input. :)

Movies to go: 99