The 50 Movies Plan

[wickedwords]

Unlike a lot of my friends, I don't watch a lot of movies. I watch a lot of tv, but it's mostly episodic rather than the self-contained flick. So this year as a family we set a goal of seeing 50 movies, whether on TV or in the theaters, just for the heck of it. So far, we have managed to see one a week, but I thought I better write them down before I forget.

1. Sherlock Holmes
The first movie of the year, and a pretty good choice, too. I liked the movie, but didn't love it, even though I very much wanted to. I really didn't like Irene, and the focus on her bugged the heck out of me, but I liked Holmes, Watson and Mary. I liked the steampunk elements, and the quasi-Cthulian story, but I never identified with the characters. So it was something I watched and enjoyed, but felt no huge attachment to.

2. Duplicity
This was fun, a good caper flick, but the ending soured it for me. I felt like I had the rug tugged out from under me there at the end, and really did not like it.

3. G Force
This one we saw on-demand, and I kinda had one eye on it and one eye on my iPhone throughout the flick. It was fun and undemanding, plus there were a lot of pop culture references which was cute. Not a stellar flick, but entertaining.

4. Up in the Air
I totally loved this movie. I believed in the characters and their journey, and I loved Ryan's mentor relationship with Natalie and his friends-with-benefits relationship with Alex. I was involved with them all and watched them change and grow--or not--and I was with them every step of the way. I think this one will go on my favorite movies list.

5. Stand and Deliver
I love this movie and it is one of my all-time favorites. So when I saw that it was on the free movie list, I could not pass it up. I love underdog academic movies, and Edward James Olmos is brilliant in this; Evan could not believe it was the same guy that played Commander Adama at first. (And Lou Diamond Philips was such a baby back then! He looks so different now on SGU.) Evan got completely wrapped up in it, and he reacted as deeply as he does when he's wrapped up in a good book or manga. This was a complete win for all of us.

6. The Birds
Neither Lar nor Evan had seen the full movie, and it was just as tense and unsettling as I remembered. This is probably the most intense edge of the horror genre that we can watch as a family, but we all enjoyed it. Then we sat around a bit and compared it with the zombie genre that is currently popular, along with all of the sci fi "nature hates you" movies.

So 6 down, 44 to go. So far, we're doing well

Comments

[sinensis]

I really loved Up In The Air, too; it was so satisfying and well-told. (and The Birds *still* scares me! after multiple viewings.)

[aurora]

I loved 'Up in the Air' too! It was incredible and really touched my heart (hee, that sounds cheesy but it's true).

I think this one will go on my favorite movies list.
WORD.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly! It sounds cheesy, but it's true. It is a very touching movie.

[cluesby4.livejournal.com]

This is too cool! I love the idea. I have so many old movies collected. The family just might have to have a movie night.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Old movies are great! Ev hasn't seen a lot of what I consider classics, and they're easy to get for a movie night at home. It's a very cheap family night date.

[cluesby4.livejournal.com]

Do...do get All This, And Heaven Too. One of the best films I have ever seen. A very young Bette Davis and Charles Boyer were excellent.

[misspamela.livejournal.com]

Have you seen Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs? We've watched it twice in two days, we loved it so much.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

No, we haven't! That's awesome. Our next theater movie is probably 'the lightning thief' as that's on Ev's list to watch, but I think cloudy is on-demand. And since both he and I will be hanging out at home during his mid-winter break, that sounds like a great activity for us.

[misspamela.livejournal.com]

I am dying to see "Lightning Thief" but the kiddo thinks she'll be too afraid of it. Does she now understand about Kevin McKidd?