January Movie Month Update #3

A few years back, we used to celebrate the new year by watching a month of movies. We decided to resurrect the idea for 2019. I went through a huge list of movies and made a slightly shorter list for us to pull from every night. There’s a little bit of everything on the list. Let’s see what we watched:

#20 Plan 9 from Outer Space — I always forget just how bad this movie is! We watched with RiffTrax.

#21 Looper — Decent scifi movie, but don’t think about the ending too much.

#22 Chappie — Another decent scifi movie. Wasn’t a fan of the main actors, but liked it overall.

#23 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel — Very cute little feel-good kind of movie. We decided to continue our Dev Patel string of movies… May need to watch the sequel.

#24 Bicentennial Man — One of those movies that J couldn’t believe that I had never seen. Interesting adaptation of an Asimov story, although I can see how people didn’t love it.

#25 The Fate of the Furious — Don’t care about Vin Diesel. I just watched this for Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. Seriously, all I cared about!

And with that, January movie month has concluded. With a few events and some early nights, I’m excited that we ended up watching 25 movies throughout the movie. Now to play catch-up on a few shows.

Next up in the TBR Pile:

January Movie Month Update #2

A few years back, we used to celebrate the new year by watching a month of movies. We decided to resurrect the idea for 2019. I went through a huge list of movies and made a slightly shorter list for us to pull from every night. There’s a little bit of everything on the list. Let’s see what we watched:

#10 The Station Agent — Very intriguing character study-like movie. Enjoyed this one.

#11 Central Intelligence — Mildly entertaining, but not amazing.

#12 High Sierra — So so good. I haven’t watched this one in years. Definitely lived up to my memories of it!

#13 How to Lose Friends and Alienate People — J recommended this one. Wasn’t amazing, but I don’t think it deserves a 37% on Rotten Tomatoes. That is way too harsh!

#14 A Band Called Death — Fascinating documentary. I learned so much!

#15 Somm: Into the Bottle — I liked this one much better than the first Somm. More information, less reality tv.

#16 Jackie Brown — Somehow I’ve never seen it. Very entertaining.

#17 The Petrified Forest — Continuing with Bogart. Really love this one.

#18 The Man Who Knew Infinity — Really good biography film.

#19 Zero Days — Fascinating, yet depressing documentary about Stuxnet.

Next up in the TBR Pile:

January Movie Month Update #1

A few years back, we used to celebrate the new year by watching a month of movies. We decided to resurrect the idea for 2019. I went through a huge list of movies and made a slightly shorter list for us to pull from every night. There’s a little bit of everything on the list. Let’s see what we watched:

#1 Snowpiercer — Been on our list for a long time. Very intense. Good, but intense.

#2 True Grit (1969) — J had me watch the newer version last year and I loved it. The original is also really good. Although every once in a while a scene was played very strangely, but I have to remember it was made in 1969.

#3 The House with a Clock in Its Walls — For a family adventure movie (slightly spooky), I loved this one. I need to read the book!

#4 Ocean’s Eight — Eh. Not great. Not terrible. Just okay.

#5 Isle of Dogs — Gorgeous looking. A lovely nod to Kurosawa. Typical Wes Anderson weirdness.

#6 Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) — Very atmospheric. Definitely stripped out many of the extraneous scenes from the book. Now I want to watch the documentary about the making of…

#7 Kung Pow: Enter the Fist — J’s stupid movie choice. So dumb. And yet I laughed a lot.

#8 Venom — Better than I thought it was going to be. I loved the little bits of banter between Eddie and Venom.

#9 Quartermass II — Really enjoyed the first one. This one was also interesting.

Next up in the TBR Pile:

MoM #30: Identity Thief

Title: Identity Thief Y

ear Released/Rating: 2013 R

Starring: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, John Cho

Directed By: Seth Gordon

Written By: Craig Mazin, Jerry Eeten

Genre: Comedy

Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Where I Got It: On the server

Trivia:

When Sandy first arrives to Miami, Florida to catch Diana at the salon. The scene starts with an aerial zoom in of a coastline, then a short cut to Sandy waiting in the car outside of the salon. The scene tries to depict Winter Park as just a short drive from Miami when in truth Winter Park is a suburban city of Orlando, FL, about a 5 hour drive outside South Beach.
Every car they took, except for the original rental car, has a crushed can of Red Bull on the dash.

Summary: Mild-mannered businessman Sandy Patterson travels from Denver to Florida to confront the deceptively harmless-looking woman who has been living it up after stealing Sandy's identity.

Review:

One of those movies that could have been awesome or absolutely horrible. It was thoroughly mediocre. There were some funny parts, but I just wasn't horribly entertained by it. And this is so sad. I really like Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy. Instead of carrying the hilarity through the movie, we are supposed to believe that Diana starts to grow a conscience. Not a good move.

Best Bits:

Diana: I just want to be upfront and say I visually enjoy you.
Sandy Patterson: Do you know what a sociopath is? Diana: Do they like ribs?
Sandy Patterson: You're diabolical. Diana: Thank you. Sandy Patterson: That's not a compliment. Diana: I know.
Diana: Dawn Budgie... That's a terrible fucking name.

MoM #29: Shaolin Soccer

Title: Shaolin Soccer

Year Released/Rating: 2001 PG-13

Starring: Stephen Chow, Wei Zhao, Yat-fei Wong

Directed By: Stephen Chow

Written By: Stephen Chow, Kan-Cheung Tsang, Min Hun Fung, Chi Keung Fung, Wei Lu

Where I Got It: Netflix

Genre: Action, Comedy

Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Trivia:

This was the most successful Hong Kong-made movie ever in Hong Kong, making HK$60 million (about US$4.7 million) at the local box office.
Banned in mainland China because it did not await certification before being released in Hong Kong.
Stephen Chow dubs his own voice for the American release.
Mui is the only character who can speak Mandarin.

Summary: A young Shaolin follower reunites with his discouraged brothers to form a soccer team using their martial art skills to their advantage.

Review:

J had been harping on me to to watch this one for awhile now. It was ridiculously silly in parts. I can't believe that I actually watched it. Pretty silly... But there were a few actions scenes that were good. I'll give it that.

Best Bits:

Sing: What are you going you look like ET? Mui: Trust me, I can do it.
Sing: I'm not here to fight, I'm here to play soccer!
[talking to a TV camera] Sing: I want to say hello to my parents and my Kung Fu master, but they're all dead.

MoM #28: We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks

Title: We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks

Year Released/Rating: 2013 R

Starring: Julian Assange, Adrian Lamo

Directed By: Alex Gibney

Written By: Alex Gibney

Genre: Documentary

Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Where I Got It: On the server

Summary: A documentary that details the creation of Julian Assange's controversial website, which facilitated the largest security breach in U.S. history.

Review:

A very interesting look at the progression of WikiLeaks and the secrets business. A large part of the second half of the documentary focuses on Julian Assange and his downfall after the rape and sexual assault allegations from Sweden. Overall, it's a very interesting look at growth and change of a group that tried to share the truth to the people of the world. Definitely makes you think about some things.

Best Bits:

Michael Hayden: We steal secrets; we steal other nations' secrets.

MoM #27: My Fake Fiance

Title: My Fake Fiance

Year Released/Rating: 2009

Starring: Melissa Joan Hart, Joseph Lawrence

Directed By: Gil Junger

Written By: Howard March

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Summary: Jennifer and Vince, virtual strangers, find themselves strapped for cash and decide to stage a fake engagement and wedding just for the gifts.

Review:

An ABC Family movie, but actually a decent one. I am a little sick of the female lead playing the harpy bitch. I want to watch a rom-com that switches the stereotypes. But, this one does have the bright spot of Joseph Lawrence. He is pretty funny and charming. I tried to watch an episode of their ABC family sitcom, but good lordy that was painful. I'll just stick with this random movie.

MoM #26: Safety Not Guaranteed

Title: Safety Not Guaranteed

Year Released/Rating: 2012 R

Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson

Directed By: Colin Trevorrow

Written By: Derek Connolly

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Trivia:

The original classified ad upon which the film is based first appeared in Backwoods Home Magazine in 1997. It was written as last-minute filler by John Silveira, an employee of the magazine, who is credited in the film as "Time Travel Consultant" and also has a cameo. The ad was later featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in the "Headlines" segment, and eventually turned into an Internet meme before being developed into a screenplay.
Some scenes were improvised, for example, when Jeff advises Arnau to raise his collar and wear sunglasses since they make him look like "a pilot that drives jets".
When Darius gives Kenneth her written phone number, it begins with area code 206, which is the code for Seattle and neighboring cities. The next three digits suggest Redmond, Washington, but, as per filming guidelines, his thumb obscures the last two digits.

Summary: Three magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified ad seeking a companion for time travel.

Review:

This is one of those movies that not everyone would like. It's not easy to put into one genre. It's got bits of drama, comedy, and science fiction all rolled into one. I love the quirky nature of the characters. The storyline is weird, just how i like it. Throughout the movie, I couldn't predict the next plot move and this is a sign of a great movie. I would definitely recommend this movie is all those who love quirky dramedies.

Best Bits:

Jeff: Can I get a couple of interns? Help me with some research? Darius: I'll do it. Arnau: Me, too, please. Me. Jeff: All right, give me the lesbian and the Indian and I got a story!
[last lines] Kenneth: To go it alone, or to go with a partner. When you choose a partner you have to have compromises and sacrifices, but it's the price you pay. Do I want to follow my every whim and desire as I make my way through time and space? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, do I need someone when I'm doubting myself and I'm insecure, and *my* heart's faliing me? Do I need someone who, when the heat gets hot, has my back. Darius: So, do you? Kenneth: I do.
Jeff: So here's what I'm thinking. We're budgeted for two rooms, but if we share a room, we could use that extra money for some other shit. Darius: For what? Drugs?
Jeff: [after Kenneth steals some lasers] Fuckin' lasers? Arnau: What kind of lasers? Darius: I don't know, I'm not a freakin' storm trooper.
Jeff: [tailing the bad guys] This is fucking intense! Darius: We're going 15 miles per hour.

MoM #25: Can't Hardly Wait

Title: Can't Hardly Wait

Year Released/Rating: 1998 PG-13

Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry, Charlis Korsmo

Directed By: Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan

Written By: Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont

Genre: Comedy

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Where I Got It: I own it

Trivia:

The film takes place on Wednesday, 17 June 1998: Barry Manilow's 55th birthday.
Ethan Embry's character is in a scene during the song "Romeo and Juliet" by Dire Straits. Ethan Embry's character in Empire Records is also in a scene with "Romeo and Juliet" by Dire Straits.
The Klepto Kid, played by Chris Owen, appears in multiple scenes stealing something: - Some random items from the convenience store when Kenny Fisher makes his introduction. - A small statue that belongs to Molly (the girl hosting the party). - A Loveburger T-shirt when the band is fighting amongst themselves. - A police car when the party is being broken up. - And finally, a gumball machine at the restaurant the morning after the party.
This was Charlie Korsmo's first (and last) on-screen appearance since Hook. He was attending MIT when he was offered the role.
Filming the final scenes of the party meant a chaotic destruction of the house. DirectorsDeborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont gave the go-ahead to completely trash the place. This involved the cast and crew pulling out drawers, dropping food all over the floor, messing up the carpets, and someone spray painting "This Party Sucked" on the front door. This all happened in one hour.

Summary: Multicharacter teenage comedy about high school graduates with different agenda of life on graduation night.

Review:

This is one of my high school favorites. I love the crazy characters and ridiculous premise. It's just a fun movie. But, I think part of the enjoyment of this movie comes from the fact that I was in high school when this movie was released. I don't think it translates to today, but I still love it. Rewatching, I am struck by just how many famous actors have little parts in this one. Jason Segel stoned and eating a watermelon! Love it!

Best Bits:

Stoner Guy: You know who else I like that didn't get much play? Velma from Scooby-Doo. She was cool. She was a hip, hip lady.
Denise: Just so you know, judging from my little experience, I kind of believe in fate. It just works in really fucked up ways sometimes. Preston: Especially in your case. I'm sorry. You gave that to me, I just had to take it. Take care. Peace out, G!
Kenny Fisher: 'Sup, ladies? Yo Jana, wanna dance? Jana: I'm allergic. Kenny Fisher: You're allergic to dancing? Jana: Yeah.
Angel Stripper: Oh I'm the weird one? You're the one calling Barry Mannilow from a phone booth at 2:00 am!
Preston: Hey, I've got one for ya. Remember that time when I was about to talk to that beautiful girl, and you came up to me and started telling me all these asinine stories? Remember that, huh? Reminiscing Guy: No. Preston: Gee, that's funny. Because it *just happened*! Reminiscing Guy: [saddened] Hey, I ain't gonna forget this, man! You just wait, I ain't inviting you to any 10-year reunion!

MoM #24: Safe Haven

Title: Safe Haven

Year Released/Rating: 2013 PG-13

Starring: Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel

Directed By: Lasse Hallstrom

Written By: Dana Stevens, Gage Lansky, Nicholas Sparks

Genre: Romance, Drama, Mystery

Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Summary: A young woman with a mysterious past lands in Southport, North Carolina where her bond with a widower forces her to confront the dark secret that haunts her.

Review:

I don't usually like movies based on Nicholas Sparks books with the exception being The Notebook. This one was much better than I thought it would be. I really enjoyed the storyline. And the characters were decent. The overall mystery was very predictable, but that's not what kept me watching. I liked the sections involving Katie and Alex. Decent romance...

Best Bits:

Roger: When did we start selling paint? Alex: Today.
Jo: Good, you can keep me from peeking inside neighbors windows, it's a bad habit of mine.
Jo: The good thing Katie, is that life is full of second chances.
Jo: Promise me something Katie, you'll take a lot of pictures and only regret the ones that you didn't take.
Lexie: Whatcha paintin'? Katie: My floor! Lexie: Floor? Usually people don't paint floors!

MoM #23: ParaNorman

Title: ParaNorman

Year Released/Rating: 2012 PG

Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Directed By: Chris Butler, Sam Fell

Written By: Chris Butler

Genre: Animation, Adventure

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Trivia:

During the last few weeks leading up to the film's release, Laika sent 49 packages to 49 people (including Neil Gaiman and Kevin Smith). Each package consisted of a wooden crate from "Blithe Hollow" full of "grave dirt" which recipients had to dig through to unearth a coffin. Inside the coffin was one of the seven cursed zombies, complete with background information and name.
Save for Judge Hopkins, the seven cursed zombies are not referred to by name, but they did have names: the aforementioned Judge Hopkins, Eben Hardwick, Thaddeus Blackton, Lemuel Spalding, Amelia Wilcot, Goodie Temper, and Wile London.
The story is set in the town of Blithe Hollow, whose name is a mash-up of two other ghost stories: Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit and Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Summary: A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.

Review:

How did I miss this movie? This is the cutest, most inventive animated film that I've seen in a long time. I love the style, the storyline, the characters. I loved everything about it. I must caution that it is not for the faint of heart. It may be animated, but it's rated PG for a reason. There are some great scares in this one. Plus you get witches, zombies, and ghosts. What more could you ask for?

Best Bits:

Norman Babcock: I'd like to be alone.
Neil: So do I! Let's do this together!
Neil: Don't make me throw this hummus... it's spicy!
Mr. Prenderghast: Pssstttt, you know who I am? Neil: The weird stinky old bum who lives up the hill? Mr. Prenderghast: [Points at Norman] I was asking him!
Courtney: Mom, tell the Zombie to stop saying stuff about me!
Neil: Can you see my dog, Bub? He was hit by an animal rescue van. Tragic and ironic.

MoM #22: Ever After

Title: Ever After

Year Released/Rating: 1998 PG-13

Starring: Drew Barrymore, Dougray Scott, Angelica Houston

Directed By: Andy Tennant

Written By: Susannah Grant, Andy Tennant, Rick Parks, Charles Perrault

Genre: Drama, Romance

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Where I Got It: I own it

Trivia:

Danielle's portrait (which Leonardo da Vinci paints in the film) is actually modeled after another da Vinci work, "La Scapigliata" (also known as "Testa di fanciulla detta la scapigliata").
The glass slippers were made by Salvatore Ferragamo.
At the start of the film when the Brothers Grimm are talking to the queen about the many different versions of the Cinderella story they mention that in some versions the slippers she wears to the ball are fur rather than glass. This refers to Charles Perrault's version of the story, which was the first to introduce the glass slipper (which in French is "pantoufle de verre"), and how some people believe it was actually an misinterpretation of the words for a fur slipper (pantoufle de vair).

Summary: The "real" story of Cinderella. A refreshing new take on the classic fairy tale.

Review:

On my list of top five movies of all time. I am a sucker for a great romance. And this one has everything: adventure, comedy, drama, beautiful costumes, scenery, and fabulous acting. I love love love this retelling of Cinderella. Angelica Houston is perfect as the evil stepmother. Dougray Scott is the perfect prince. And Drew Barrymore has all the spirit and fight that I always picture Cinderella to have. I watch this one every few months just for a pick me up.

Best Bits:

Leonardo da Vinci: You cannot leave everything to fate, boy. She's got a lot to do. Sometimes you must give her a hand.
Danielle: Forgive me, Your Highness, I did not see you. Henry: Your aim would suggest otherwise.
Henry: Mother, Father, I want to build a university, with the largest library on the continent, where anyone can study, no matter their station! King Francis: All right... Who are you... and what have you done with my son? Henry: [laughs] Oh, and I want to invite the gypsies to the ball!
Queen Marie: Any choice is better than Spain!
Danielle: [about the prince] Honestly, I think he and Marguerite deserve each other. Paulette: Oh, bite your tongue! The only throne I want her sitting on is the one I have to clean everyday.
Henry: You told me it was a matter of life or death. Leonardo da Vinci: [unrolling the Mona Lisa] A woman always is, sire.
Danielle: A bird may love a fish, signore, but where will they live? Leonardo da Vinci: Then I shall have to make you wings.
Danielle: Signore, my name is Danielle de Barbarac, and I am but a servant. Leonardo da Vinci: Yes, and I'm the bastard son of a peasant. What does that have to do with anything?

MoM #21: Love's Labour's Lost

Title: Love's Labour's Lost

Year Released/Rating: 2000 PG

Starring: Alessandro Nivola, Alicia Silverstone, Natascha McElhone

Directed By: Kenneth Branagh

Written By: William Shakespeare, Kenneth Branagh

Genre: Musical Romantic Comedy

Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Trivia:

The actors did their own singing.
The actors had three weeks to rehearse.

Summary: An update of the classic Shakespeare story, director Kenneth Branagh shot this movie like a classic 30s musical. Love's Labour's Lost tells the story of four best friends who swear off love.

Review:

I love the style of this movie. The combination of classic songs and beautiful costumes really adds to the original Shakespeare. This isn't my favorite Shakespeare, but it's a decent comedy. The actors, excepting Nathan Lane and Kenneth Branagh, seem a bit out of place with the singing and dancing. The atmosphere of this movie keep me watching.

MoM #20: Beauty and the Briefcase

Title: Beauty and the Briefcase

Year Released/Rating: 2010

Starring: Hilary Duff, Chris Carmack, Michael McMillian

Directed By: Gil Junger

Written By: Michael Horowitz, Daniella Brodsky

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Summary: A freelance writer looking for romance sells a story to Cosmopolitan magazine about finding love in the workplace and goes undercover at a Finance Company.

Review:

Extremely mediocre romantic comedy. Hilary Duff was cute on her Disney show, but as a girl playing a woman looking for love, she comes off as immature and annoying. I could not like her character at all. For romantic comedies, I should love the leads. I really didn't at all. There are much better movies out there. Thankfully I was working while watching, so I didn't completely waste my time.

MoM #19: The Lorax

Title: The Lorax

Year Released/Rating: 2012 PG

Starring: Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Taylor Swif

Directed By: Chris Renaud, Kyle Balda

Written By: Dr. Seuss, Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio

Genre: Comedy, Family

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Trivia:

The characters of Ted and Audrey are named after Dr. Seuss (whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel) and his second wife Audrey Geisel.
Unlike the original book, the Once-ler is shown fully in the story as a human. Executive producer Christopher Meledandri said of the change, "The minute you make the Once-ler a monster, you allow the audience to interpret that the problem is caused by somebody who is different from me, and it ceases to be a story that is about all of us. Then it's a story about, 'Oh I see, the person who led us into the predicament is not a person. It's somebody very, very different.' And so it takes you off the hook."
When the Once-ler is walking to his office once he became rich, what appears to be a blow-up magazine cover is hanging on the wall. It is caption "Too big to fail", which is an colloquial term in economics to define an institution whose failure would bring catastrophic consequences to the economy. After the 2009 banking collapse, modern economists have said that institutions too big to fail are simply too big to exist.
Whilst playing board games with the family, Grammy Norma can make the word "Lorax" with the scrabble balls she has.

Summary: A 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

Review:

Always love Dr. Seuss, but the movies usually don't live up to the books. Thankfully, this one does. I love the additions of Ted and Audrey to help the audience connect to the storyline and message. Plus, Danny DeVito is just amazing as the Lorax. I love this movie way too much. The movie really highlights the beauty of Seuss' creations. I think we need to own this one now.

Best Bits:

Mr. O'Hare: You've got a beautiful town here, Ted! I can't think of any reason you'd want to leave town... ever again.
Once-ler: Unless someone like you cares an awful lot, things aren't going to get better. They're not. Ted: You do know that you are talking in rhyme, don't you?
Once-ler: Why are you so interested in trees, anyway? Why aren't you like other kids? Breakdancing and wearing bellbottoms and playing the Donkey Kongs? Ted: [laughs] Yeah. Right, right. I don't know. Uh, I just thought it might be kinda cool to have one. Once-ler: [knowingly] Uh-huh. It's a girl, isn't it? Ted: [scoffs] What? No! Once-ler: Really? Because when a guy does something stupid once, well that's because he's a guy. But if he does the same stupid thing twice, that's usually to impress some girl. Ted: Hey, she is not just some girl! She's a woman. In high school. And she loves trees. And I'm gonna get her one. Once-ler: Awww. How nice to see someone so undeterred by things like reality. Ted: Thank you.

MoM #18: Sweet Home Alabama

Title: Sweet Home Alabama

Year Released/Rating: 2002 PG-13

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Patrick Dempsey

Directed By: Andy Tennant

Written By: Douglas J. Eboch, C. Jay Cox

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Where I Got It: I own it

Trivia:

Two dogs mentioned in the movie, "Bear" and "Bryant", are references to legendary University of Alabama head football coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant.
An entire character (along with a subplot about her) was deleted from the film, when test audiences consistently misunderstood her relationship with Andrew. Erin Vanderbilt (played by Katharine Towne) survives in the finished movie only in a newspaper wedding announcement shown to Melanie during the closing credits.
Earl asks Pearl to pull the bologna cake out of the freezer when Melanie announces her engagement. This tasty item came to the film as a dish served to one of the (many) script re-writers by his fiancée, who was from Indiana. It is bologna, cream cheese and horseradish.
Jake's glassblowing shop was filmed in Fayette County Georgia at an old mill called Starr's Mill. The exterior was repainted and the porch was rebuilt for the movie. The bridges were later washed away in a flood.

Summary: A young woman with a Southern background runs away from her husband in Alabama and reinvents herself as a New York socialite.

Review:

Hands down my favorite romantic comedy. I love turning to this movie when I need a bit of a pick me up. I love everything about it: the characters, the story line, the setting, the ending. Reese Witherspoon is too charming as the fish out of water in her hometown. And I absolutely adore both the leading men. The movie doesn't make one the villain and the other the hero. Instead, we see two different choices for Melanie. I love the one she picks, but she could have easily picked the other. And that scene in the graveyard gets me every time. I end up a blubbering mess. The movie makes me laugh, smile, and cry. It's a winner in my book!

Best Bits:

Earl Smooter: You can't ride two horses with one ass, sugarbean.
Jake: [not recognizing Melanie in her sunglasses] Can I help you? Melanie: Well, for starters, you can get your stubborn ass down here and give me a divorce. Jake: You're shittin' me, right? Melanie: I never fully understood that expression, but no, I am not "shitting" you.
Jake: The only reason I ain't signing is cause you've turned into some hoity-toity Yankee bitch, and I'd like nothing better right now than to piss you off.
Melanie: Well, you must be Jake's hot date. I'm Melanie, Jake's snotty Yankee bitch wife whom he refuses to divorce.
Mayor Kate Hennings: [smacks mosquito] One down, a six million to go. Earl Smooter: Careful, you just killed the state bird of Alabama!
Melanie: And don't even pretend like you missed me. Jake: Oh, I missed you all right, but at this range, my aim is bound to improve.
Melanie: People need a passport to come down here.
Bobby Ray: You know us Southerns. I mean, the minute the Confederacy died it became immortal.

MoM #17: The Social Network

Title: The Social Network

Year Released/Rating: 2010 PG-13

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake

Directed By: David Fincher

Written By: Aaron Sorkin, Ben Mezrich

Genre: Drama, Biography

Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Where I Got It: On the server

Trivia:

During one of the depositions, it is mentioned that the invention of Facebook made Mark Zuckerberg "the biggest thing on a campus that included nineteen Nobel Laureates, fifteen Pulitzer Prize winners, two future Olympians, and a movie star." One of the lawyers then asks, "Who was the movie star?" and the response is, "Does it matter?" This movie star was, in fact, Natalie Portman, who was enrolled at Harvard from 1999 to 2003 and helped screenwriter Aaron Sorkin by providing him insider information about goings-on at Harvard at the time Facebook first appeared there.
Most outfits that Mark wears in the film are things that the real Mark Zuckerberg has been seen wearing in pictures, with at least one exception, a T-shirt from a theatre company that Jesse Eisenberg had belonged to.
Andrew Garfield came into rehearsal with a copy of Economics for Dummies. Inspired by that move, Jesse Eisenberg bought C++ for Dummies. According to Eisenberg, both he and Garfield read the introductions of their books and then put them down.
Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield became good friends during filming. According to Eisenberg, the dramatic rivalry between their characters was hard for the two because it affected them emotionally.
Rashida Jones who plays an associate of Mark Zuckerberg's attorney was a graduate of Harvard University, the school Zuckerberg attended.

Summary: Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, but is later sued by two brothers who claimed he stole their idea, and the cofounder who was later squeezed out of the business.

Review:

I finally got around to actually watching this one and I was not super impressed. Maybe it's because almost every single on the characters are complete idiots. Or maybe I just don't really like Jesse Eisenberg. The bright spot here is Aaron Sorkin's writing. And yes, you can definitely tell that he had a hand in writing this movie. It's dialogue and monologue heavy. So much dialogue is crammed into small spaces, the audience really has to pay attention to follow all the twists and turns in the conversations. Overall though, I just couldn't get behind any of the characters and therefore I just didn't love the movie.

Best Bits:

Marylin Delpy: The site got twenty-two hundred hits within two hours? Mark Zuckerberg: Thousand. Marylin: I'm sorry? Mark: Twenty-two *thousand*. Marylin: [to herself] Wow.
Mark: You know, you really don't need a forensics team to get to the bottom of this. If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you'd have invented Facebook.
K.C.: Seven different people spammed me the same link. KC's Friend: What is it? K.C.: I don't know, but I'm really hoping it's cats that look like Hitler, because I can never get enough of that.
Erica Albright: You are probably going to be a very successful computer person. But you're going to go through life thinking that girls don't like you because you're a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that that won't be true. It'll be because you're an asshole.
Sean Parker: We lived on farms, then we lived in cities, and now we're going to live on the internet!

MoM #16: Sweet Land

Title: Sweet Land

Year Released/Rating: 2005 PG

Starring: Elizabeth Reaser, Tim Guinee, Alan Cumming, Alex Kingston

Directed By: Ali Selim

Written By: Ali Selim, Will Weaver

Genre: Drama, Romance

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Where I Got It: I own it

Trivia:

Most of the Norwegian and German was not scripted, but made up by the actors during filming and is gibberish.
Elizabeth Reasers' Norwegian pronunciation was so bad that after Dagbladet (one of Norway's biggest news-papers) stumbled upon this film, they posted a clip from it with the title "What is she trying to say?"

Summary: In 1920, Inge, a German national, travels from Norway to rural Minnesota for her arranged marriage to Olaf, a Norwegian farmer; bureaucracy and prejudice cause major complications.

Review:

This is one of my favorite movies we own (and that's saying a lot as we have hundreds of movies). I have no idea when or where I stumbled upon this one (maybe $5 Target buy?), but I instantly loved it. It is such a sweet romantic story of two strangers thrown together in rural Minnesota. I can't imagine traveling across the ocean to a brand new country by myself with limited language skills. Inge is such a great character. I love watching her grow and find a place within the community. Definitely a recommended movie.

Best Bits:

Clerk of Court: The judge says we have to be careful about this sort of thing. Young Olaf: What sort of ting? Clerk of Court: German nationals... German nationals engage in prostitution, they encourage polygamy, they harbor dangerous political convictions. Are you aware of the Espionage Act of 1916? Young Olaf: You tink she's a spy? Clerk of Court: Well, I'll tell you what's in her favor. She's not Chinese.
Postal Clerk: No foreign language letters leave the country. Young Olaf: Why? Postal Clerk: We're at war, with Germany. Young Olaf: So they keep telling me. I tought ve von.
Old Inge: [reading] A thing of beauty is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness; but still will keep a bower quiet for us, and a sleep full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

MoM #15: Everything You Want (Love Surreal)

Title: Everything You Want (Love Surreal)

Year Released/Rating: 2005

Starring: Shiri Appleby, Nick Zano, Alexandra Holden

Directed By: Ryan Little

Written By: Steven A. Lee, Kevin Lawrence King, Natalie Prado

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Summary: It was at a very young age that Abby found herself experimenting with the gift of art while she practically grew up with her aunt while her parents would travel the world without her. Years later she's living with her friend and co-worker Jessica and has the perfect boyfriend, Sy, who doesn't mind seeing romantic comedies, posing for her artwork, and playing in the snow. But suddenly Abby begins tutoring Jessica's cousin, Quinn, about the world of art and while doing so finds herself torn between what real love is. Can she choose between the perfect boyfriend of her dreams and the fun-loving boy from her humanities class? Written by cestlavie03

Review:

About halfway through the movie, I realized that I have seen this before... Show's just how memorable a movie it is. That said, it's a run of the mill made for tv romantic comedy. The characters are fairly likable. The plotline is fairly predictable. That's just about it... Nothing really else too explain.

Best Bits:

[in an art gallery] Quinn Andrews: It looks like spaghetti. Abby Morrison: Well maybe to you, but I happen to see something else. Quinn Andrews: Fettucini, I got it.
Quinn Andrews: [while playing pong - the first primitive video game] Just quick question man, when are you gunna get a new game? Calvin Dillwaller: They made new games?
Sy: If he breaks your heart... I'll ... Abby Morrison: What are you gunna do huh? Are you gunna like stab him with some imaginary sword?
Quinn Andrews: Cal, the light. Calvin Dillwaller: Quinn, the pants. Quinn Andrews: What? Calvin Dillwaller: I thought we were playing word association! Quinn Andrews: No! Just shut off the light!

MoM #14: Super Cyclone

Title: Super Cyclone

Year Released/Rating: 2012

Starring: Ming-Na, Nicholas Turturro, Andy Clemence

Directed By: Liz Adams

Written By: Liz Adams

Genre: Action, Scifi

Star Rating: 1/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Summary: An oil rig accidentally drills into an underwater volcano, unleashing an unstoppable tornado! Indeed, the tornado gets so powerful that it picks up Navy cutters like tinker toys. Then it makes the sky rain oil, then fire. And somehow the oil rig does not get scooped up like Wizard of Oz... somehow. Additionally, the big tornado seems to hover in just one spot for almost the whole movie! Don't ask too many science questions. You won't get answers as to how the sky can catch on fire. You won't get answers about ships weighing hundreds of tons can get catapulted into the air. You won't get answers as to what nanotubes have to with bad weather. And you certainly won't get answers as to how an 18" drill bit can create... a Super Cyclone!

Review:

Another ridiculous Asylum disaster movie. The continuity errors in the first 10 minutes alone had me rolling with laughter. This is just so incredibly unbelievable. Somehow a drilling platform creates a super tornado somehow connected with a volcano. Yeah right! Notice that the summary is longer than my review. Basically this is horrid. Just an small example of the ridiculous: Repeatedly we are told there is a severe storm present, yet shots of the actors show them in clear sunny weather with well defined shadows. Last note: I remember when Ming-Na was on ER and could actually act. What the hell happened?