Everyone's Got A Guilty Pleasure...Mine's "Transformers"

 It's true. Everyone has a guilty pleasure.

When it comes to movies, I think we all have a film that whenever it's on, we stop and watch--if not the whole thing, at least part of it. Last night I was channel surfing and I came across one of my guilty viewing pleasures...

Transformers

I'm sorry. I know there's a lot not to necessary like about the film. It's "over the top" and gratuitous in places. I know that the film's protagonist went on to have a turbulent career with several questionable choices (both onscreen and off...). I know that it's the type of movie where you turn off the logical side of your brain and just watch, but I can't help it.

I think it's a gas.

Being the first of many, the movie that starts a franchise needs to be good. I thought the casting in Transformers was exceptional. The side characters make me laugh every time. It's well-paced. There's lots of action, even if much of it makes little sense. We have patriotic themes, fantasy themes, science fiction themes, government conspiracy themes...lets face it--it's got it all.

The show was on last night and so I sat down and watched it unfold. Nerdy kid gets his first car, a car that's not really a car, but an alien. Nerdy boy also gets the "bad" girl and together the work with government officials, military heroes, and sidekicks to literally save the world from invasion.

The film spawned others, two more with Shea LaBeouf, then two more, with another slated for 2023 (at least, according to IMDb where I lifted these photos without permission...). I do not like any of the other Transformer films as much as I like the original, though I did enjoy Bumblebee, mostly because the alien is a VW, not a Camaro. It is also a guilty pleasure, though they don't play that one as much as Transformers.

There will be a time in the future, I will once again find myself surfing the channels and I will come upon this film--first debuted in 2007--and I'll find myself watching it, and enjoying it again.

"8 Bit Christmas"...A True Gem

 Things (it seems...) were simpler in the 1980s. Maybe they seem simpler because there were fewer things, fewer people, fewer cars, fewer, channels to watch, fewer forms of entertainment.

When it comes to Christmas entertainment, there seemed to be fewer things, too. There was no Hallmark Channel or Lifetime Channel or half a dozen other channels that played Christmas movies from Halloween to New Years (and again in July...). No, back then, if you wanted to see a new Christmas movie, you had to get off your behind, get in a car, and go to a movie theater to see it.

That's where I saw A Christmas Story, and that's just the way it was.

It's been so long since I sat in a theater and watched A Christmas Story. It's such a classic, and even though I did not grow in in the 1930s when the show was set, I think every child can identify with not getting what they want for Christmas, or if not Christmas, wanting something so badly, you think of nothing else.

I've often wondered it there would be another film that could capture the joy, the innocence of A Christmas Story. 

I think we found one.

Last night my wife and I decided to check out a new film. With so many to chose from, you never know if they'll be good or not. I had just read a tweet from someone that said they saw a show called 8 Bit Christmas and they loved it. We thought we'd give it a shot.

Wonderful, lovely show!

8 Bit Christmas is the story of a boy not wanting a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas, but something even more unobtainable to a child without means in the late 1980s...A Nintendo Entertainment System. Once again, this was not my age group--this time I was a little older than the child, but so much of it hit home. And the performances by the child actors were exceptional. Crisp funny writing, believable family situations, over-the-top (at times...) memories of childhood. It all added up to a gem of a little story.

Because we live in such an amazing time, we can watch our favorite Christmas movies whenever we want. I believe we'll be adding 8 Bit Christmas to our collection of favorites. And I didn't even have to go to the theater to see it.

Saw "The Dig" Last Night...An Example Of Classic Storytelling

 With so many choices when it comes to "what to watch," I rely on recommendations from friends. I saw a couple of posts yesterday from friends who liked a little film on Netflix titled, The Dig.

Last night, we gave it a shot.

We're glad we did.

I'm not going to go into great detail about the story. It is based on real events that took place in England just before WWII began. A woman hires a man to excavate ancient mounts of dirt on her property. Turns out, what they find buried on the land exceeds anyone's expectations.

As remarkable as the story is, what impressed me was the way the story was told. You could call it "sleepy," and you'd be right. The story is in no way boring--it held our attention--but there's no explosions, no special effects needed, no things that seem to be required in modern storytelling. Thanks to the the story and the magnificent acting, we see the story in the faces, in the way people move, in the lighting, the sounds, the music, the way rain creates a mood for tired people trying to do the best job possible.

We find in a family each of us as we try to overcome adversity, health issues, non-appreciation of hard work. And we watch until the end when earth is returned to the land after the discoveries of what lay underneath are complete.

It goes to show that there are as many fascinating stories out there as there are people that live them. All we need to do is uncover the dirt above to find the treasure below. And, when you have a wonderful story, expert filmmakers, and incredible actors that make those treasures shine...well, then you really have something special.

"The House With A Clock In Its Walls"...I Had Forgotten About This One

One of the advantages of not seeing films in a theater is that you happen upon movies you thought might be interesting, but never got around to watch...

And you get to watch them. 

Today I watched a 2018 film, The House With a Clock in its Walls. I remember seeing the ad--I can't believe it came out last year. 

I knew nothing of the book from which the film is based. It was written by John Bellairs and first published in 1973. It reminded me of another film I saw a few years back, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Both were geared toward children, and I found both of them a little dark, especially the film based on Rigg's book. Bellairs's story dealt with dark themes as well, demons, that kind of thing.

I enjoyed the film. It starred Jack Black--who doesn't like Jack Black? He's engaging and a perfect fit for a children's story. This isn't to say he's not a good fit for other genres. I find him a good actor in almost everything I've seen him in.

The House With a Clock in its Walls tells the story of a recently-orphaned Lewis Barnvelt who must now live with his strange uncle and the uncle's equally strange neighbor. Turns out, uncle and neighbor was a practicing warlock and witch. Throw in peer pressure, jr. high bullying, curiosity, raising the dead, and the end of all humanity, and you've got the makings for a fun little story. 

The film made me want to read the book--something that I'm finding to be a good sign. When I like a film based on a book, I usually really like the book once I read it.

When I saw the film was available to watch, I remembered I wanted to see the film. I finally got around to seeing it, and I'm glad I did.

"Gifted"...A Good Film

I think one of the more unappreciated aspects of watching a movie occurs when you choose a film to watch--something you know nothing about--and it turns out to be great. It's one of the trade-offs of not seeing movies in the theater. If the show's a dud, you just spent good money to watch something bad, or something sub-par. And if you see a great movie in the theater, well...it's supposed to be great, now, isn't it?

Last night, as I was finishing up a first draft, my wife turned on the movie, Gifted. Neither of us knew much about it. I knew it starred Chris Evans, but that's about it. Mr. Evans is one of the most famous and recognizable actors on the planet, having reached this level of success by playing superheroes.

He was a superhero in Gifted, too. Although, in this film, he's not a hero to billions, but to one extraordinary girl, his niece, Mary.

You can probably tell by the movie poster alone, this is not a big-budget/explosions/world-in-peril/ type show. It's a simple story of a fallen man doing everything he can to make the best life possible for his niece. His mother, his sister's ghost, and his past all work against him. The story details his struggles as he fights to keep Mary home with him.

When you see an actor who is known for such an iconic role, it's easy to look past his/her basic acting skills. Not that we do this on purpose, it's just what happens when all of your senses are being bombarded with lights and sounds. In a project like this, the actor's stripped of his uniform. Evans is simply Frank Adler, boat mechanic, guardian. Evans does a terrific job portraying a vulnerable man trying to survive.

Another wonderful aspect of Gifted is the acting from the supporting cast. There's not a weak link among them. They create a world where everyone is either fighting or helping Frank Adler--either pushing him to what he wants, or pushing him away. And Frank's one-eyed cat named Fred serves as a reminder that even Frank's pet has a tough life.

Mary Adler, the niece, is a mathematical genius, which drives the storyline and creates additional drama to the situation. But I believe it could have been a wonderful and effective story without the little girl possessing this trait. People are removed from homes every day for reasons much more mundane.

Gifted came out last year. It cost (according to IBDb...) $7 million, and it made much more than that. Good for it. Good for Mr. Evans to be part of a movie that surprised us and made us appreciate the pure art of storytelling.

Finally Got Around To Watching..."Jupiter Ascending"

When I was younger, I can't remember if I saw a lot of movies. I probably did, at least, the movies everyone saw. Of course, back then there weren't so many movies available to watch. Still, when I'm working or in plays around those from the younger generation, it seems they watch every movie that comes out.

There's many disadvantages to only watching one or two movies a year at the movie theater. You miss out on the "theater experience." I admit, having a quality sound system rumble the seats is very cool. Most theater seats nowadays are pretty fine as well. And, by watching movies at home via RedBox or Netflix, there's the inevitable waiting.

But there's also advantages, too. For one, we save money, and that's a good thing. But what I believe is the biggest advantage is enjoying some movies I normally wouldn't, or--and perhaps this is my unverified bias shining through--liking movies those who see every movie that comes out might not.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that this afternoon we watched Jupiter Ascending and thought it wasn't too bad, at least, not as bad as what some have said about it. The film introduces us to a fantastical world, or worlds. A woman, currently a maid who cleans houses with her family, is discovered to be the princess of a race of being who originally populated our planet. An evil man wants earth for his own diabolical purposes wants the woman killed. His plans are foiled by a flying hero who saves the princess and basically everyone else.

The movie was long, maybe a little too long, but I appreciated the introduction of something new. It wasn't a re-make, or a sequel, or a prequel. It had the look and feel of a big-budget film, and overall, I liked it. I've said many times after watching a movie at home that, if I had paid $7-10 in the theater, I probably wouldn't have liked it as much. So, I liked something I spent very little (financially...) to watch. I wonder if those who spent an estimated $176 million to create the film appreciate that.

Probably not.

"The Rewrite"...A Film Recommendation

*

Yesterday we came across a film called The Rewrite. Perhaps you've heard of it.  We barely had. We decided to watch it.

And we LOVED it!

Hugh Grant is one of those actors we follow, or at least, have seen most of the films in which he's appeared for some time. If you've seen the same films, you've probably noticed a trend in the characters he portrays. Grant makes a very lovable has-been. He's also part of a stellar cast which includes Marisa Tomei, J.K. Simmons, Chris Elliot, and Allison Janney. 

In The Rewrite we find Grant once again having his best days in the past. This time Grant reached the pinnacle of his profession--an Oscar-winning screenwriter--who has fallen on hard times. So much so that he has taken a job teaching screenwriting in an upstate New York university. His poor decisions, when meeting new students and fellow faculty members, follows and the film's hero must overcome the small things while trying to overcome the large ones.

But what's best about The Rewrite is the writing! Terrific dialogue delivered by amazing (and Oscar-winning...) actors is a wonderful match, something that happens a lot in this film. Sure the plot is formulaic and it ends the way it's supposed to end, but we sure enjoyed the ride. I especially loved the archive film footage of Grant in a younger day. It was woven expertly into the story and made me remember the actor we all meet many years ago.

We found this on Starz--otherwise we wouldn't have known about it. If you get the chance to watch it, I hope you do. And if you do, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

* Photo used without permission from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2509850/

The Secret Of "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty"...

There are so many films out there to see, so many options. I don't come close to seeing even a portion of what's out there.

And that's not necessarily a bad thing because as we all know, there's a lot of bad product out there when it comes to movies.

In my opinion, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is not one of those bad products.

I remember seeing an ad for the show and I was intrigued. I knew it was a re-make, but I haven't seen the original. I knew somewhat of the meaning of Mittyesque (daydreaming as an escape or for the fun of it...) but that was about it. And I didn't know a lot of people who had seen this film. It wasn't one that came up in conversation. "Hey. Did you see that new Ben Stiller film, that Walter Mitty thing?"

I didn't hear a lot of that.

Too bad.

Sometimes a movie just reaches you. There's something in it that connects and you find yourself drawn into the lives of the characters. This show did it for me. The scenery of Iceland is spectacular and the resolution of the "everyman" plight was sweet. Plus, the music was very good.

I read a little about the film on Wikipedia (I know it's not a serious site for research...) and it's amazing all of the times this movie was to be made in the past. Perhaps all movies have a similar history--I'm not sure.

It appears the reviews for this one were mixed and it didn't do that well at the box office. But for me, it was enjoyed. If you're wondering whether or not to see it, give it a shot. You might just like it, too.

Home Sick

I think when the alarm rang yesterday at around 5:25am I somehow knew that I wouldn't be going to work today. My actions today allowed that prophecy to come to pass. I felt bad and knew that I most likely picked up whatever microscopic creature escaped from the gigantic petri dish that is our house. These facts shaped my decision.

There's a lot going on at my house during the day. Each of our four children remain at home as a destination for their formal education. Having six of us under the same roof makes our somewhat smallish home sometimes feel even smaller. But we love it and wouldn't want it any other way (of course, the views of this blog are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of all occupants of the home all the time...).

I took the opportunity while resting to do a couple of things. I sent in my short story to the Selected Shorts Writing Contest (see link: http://www.symphonyspace.org/shorts/writing_contest for more information--contest ends 1 March, 2011). I have no serious aspirations, but it's fun to dream. And since I was in bed all day, I was able to work on another project that involves scenes and dialogue and motivation and character development. I will keep everyone informed if it moves from the written page to digital life.

In the afternoon my wife and I streamed on Netflix "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend," an independent film written and directed by Daryn Tufts (see IMBd link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1447793/ personally, I give it more stars than the IMBd page did...). We liked it. I saw people I actually know (and, more importantly, might say they know me...). If you get a second, it's not bad.

I think I knew when my alarm didn't go off this morning at 5:25am (or any other time, for that matter...) that I would be going to work tomorrow. I guess I need to make sure my actions allow that prophecy to come to pass, too.