Below are my movies of the week:
December 22
The Nightmare Before Christmas (Directed by Henry
Selick) I know a lot of people love this movie but I find it to be just okay.
There is nothing overly great about it in my eyes. It is fun to watch every few
years but it isn't something that I must watch on a yearly basis.
Pleasantville (Directed by Gary Ross) I think that
this movie can be viewed in multiple ways. First about a brother and sister who
are sucked in to a TV and have to live in a 1950's style TV show where
everything was perfect and in black and white. The other more interesting way
involves diversity and accepting people for being different no matter if they
are in black and white or color. I really got in to this movie after watching
it while taking a Cultural Diversity class back in college. I almost wrote my
final paper for the class on it but went with another movie that covered
similar issues.
Home Alone (Directed by Chris Columbus) I fell
asleep watching this while sick in bed but I made sure to watch what I missed
after I woke up in the morning. I remember watching this every year at
Christmas thinking how fun it would be to fend for myself and maybe take on
some bad guys. All these years later I am not taking on any bad guys but I do
like fending for myself, now if I didn't have to pay bills as part of my
fending.
December 23
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (Directed by Chris
Columbus) While watching this movie I raised what I thought was a very
important question on Facebook: Is the reason we never got a 3rd Home Alone
movie with Macaulay Culkin because Child Protective Services removed his
character from his parents care following their return from New York? I am not
sure how his parents could be allowed to keep custody of Kevin or their other
children if something like what happened in the first two movies transpired
today.
Captain Phillips (Directed by Paul Greengrass) This
Tom Hanks movie based on a true story might be his best movie in some time. I
remember hearing on the news about a cargo ship that was boarded by Somali
pirates. What I didn't know was that the pirates were not on the ship for very
long and instead they took the captain hostage on a rescue boat. Since the
story itself was written by the captain himself it is pretty easy to figure out
the final outcome. But how they get to the final outcome is where Tom Hanks
shines.
The 16th Man (Directed by Cliff Bestall) Another
solid documentary from ESPN narrated by Morgan Freeman. This 30 for 30 took a
look at Nelson Mandela and the Rugby World Cup held in South Africa. I am a fan
of the movie Invictus and this went a bit deeper in to some of the events
portrayed in the film.
December 24
Die Hard (Directed by John McTiernan) One of the
best Christmas movies of all-time. I thought I had watched this earlier in the
year but when I realized I hadn't I was really excited to watch it. I ended up
watching it with my mom because she loves the Die Hard series and this is her
favorite Christmas movie.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (Directed by John
Hughes) I honestly don't remember ever watching this movie before. Having said
that, it was an enjoyable movie. It was a bit predictable but it also provided
some classic John Hughes moments.
Christmas Vacation (Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik)
For the last ten years my dad and I have watched this Christmas classic on
Christmas Eve. What I find most enjoyable about this movie is the running
commentary that my dad and I provide during it. We both have our favorite lines
that we quote before they happen and we always point out little things
throughout the movie that make us laugh. No matter how many times I watch the
movie I always find something new.
December 25
A Christmas Story (Directed by Bob Clark) Hey TBS
if you're going to air a marathon of this holiday classic you should include
the entire movie, especially FUDGE! I had to rewind a few times to make sure I
didn't miss it. Sadly it wasn't included at all.
December 26
We're the Millers (Directed by Rawson Marshall
Thurber) I did not enjoy this movie. The only part that I actually laughed at
was a single scene in the post credits outtakes. Please Hollywood do not waste
money on making a sequel.
47 Ronin (Directed by Carl Rinsch) Interesting
story and great special effects made this Samurai movie enjoyable to watch. It
was also fun to see Keanu Reeves back on the big screen. Watching the movie
made me want to learn more about the story of the 47 Ronin.
Fruitvale Station (Directed by Ryan Coogler) I
have been looking forward to seeing this movie since I originally heard about
it. It is a very sad story but it was also very interesting to see the journey
of the main character throughout the movie. I highly recommend that people see
this movie.
December 27
The Wolf of Wall Street (Directed by Martin
Scorsese) Holy crap that was a GREAT movie. This is my favorite movie of the
year. It is almost 3 hours in length but it didn't feel like it. I am also
really interested in seeing the original 4.5 hour cut that Scorsese originally
put together.
Rush (Directed by Ron Howard) Ron Howard
knows how to make good movies, especially when the subject itself might not
seem to be enjoyable right away. The movie was set in the 70’s but Ron Howard
made it feel like it was originally filmed in the 70’s.
Zoolander (Directed by Ben Stiller) I am not
usually a fan of this type of comedy but for some reason Ben Stiller knows how
to be funny enough to forget about my dislike for stupid and awkward humor. I
am surprised that we have yet to get a sequel to this movie. They are working
on a Night at the Museum 3 already but not a Zoolander 2?
December 28
Big Trouble in Little China (Directed by John
Carpenter) Another 80's classic that I am surprised it took me so long to
watch. The movie is completely ridiculous but that is what makes it so much
fun. Watching the movie got me thinking that Hollywood had a bit of a crush of
truck drivers back in the mid-80’s.
The American President (Directed by Rob
Reiner) I never got in to watching The West Wing but I'd like to think that
this movie was a bit of a prequel to the show. The writing was amazing and even
after seeing this movie at least 15 times I still enjoy every minute of it.
Michael J. Fox’s character was a lot of fun to watch. His idea of all dates are
tentative until a confirmation call is made always makes me laugh.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Directed by Peter
Jackson) So much better than the first Hobbit movie. There is a reason I didn't
watch Jackson's first Hobbit movie this year, I couldn't force myself to sit
through it again. This movie flowed a lot better and kept me more entertained
all the way through.
December 29
Silly Little Game (Directed by Lucas Jansen &
Adam Kurland) I am a big fan of playing Fantasy Football. I have been in a
league with some old co-workers for almost ten years. This ESPN documentary
looks back at the guys that invented what we now call Fantasy Sports.
December 30
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Directed by Ben
Stiller) I don't remember this story from when I was growing up in school but I
will need to check it out. This was a very nice surprise to me. It was nice to
see Kristen Wiig in a movie and not be annoyed by the typical character she has
played lately.
Saving Mr. Banks (Directed by John Lee Hancock) This
movie was okay. I am not a big Emma Thompson fan but Paul Giamatti though not
in it a lot was my favorite character. Colin Farrell also put in a strong
performance.
Funny Farm (Directed by George Roy Hill) I had not
seen this Chevy Chase movie in years before this viewing. There are a few parts
that are incredibly stupid but for the most part the movie as a whole is
enjoyable to watch all these years later.
Rio (Directed by Carlos Saldanha) Saw the
trailer for the sequel to this movie with Walter Mitty and figured I'd give it
a shot. The story and characters were a lot of fun and the animation was high
quality. It is a fun animated film.
December 31
Kuffs (Directed by Bruce A. Evans) The best
part of this movie is the "Osbourne style" curse rant that gets
bleeped out like you are watching the movie on network TV.
Men in Black (Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld) One of
my favorite Will Smith movies as well as a Tommy Lee Jones favorite. The movie
feels like a total comic book come to life that spawned two sequels. Mind you
only the second sequel was any good.
Sgt. Bilko (Directed by Jonathan Lynn) Fun Steve
Martin movie I started while I was cleaning house. It took a lot longer to
clean my place than it should have because I kept stopping to watch certain
scenes. Phil Hartman is great in the movie and I miss that his life was cut
short so early.
June 17, 1994 (Directed by Brett Morgen) The sports
world was on a bit of overload on June 17, 1994. The NY Rangers had just won
the Stanley Cup, the NY Knicks were playing in game 5 of the NBA Finals, the
FIFA World Cup was starting, Arnold Palmer was playing in his final round of
the US Open and OJ Simpson was leading the LAPD and most of the viewing nation
on a car chase around Los Angeles. This ESPN documentary features only audio
and video taken that day as events unfolded. The crazy thing about the car
chase on June 17 was I was in Los Angeles with my mom and brother visiting
friends. I remember trying to watch the NBA finals and the local news coverage
kept breaking in with updates about OJ. Finally they went with a split screen
of the game and the car chase.
60 Different
Movies Watched in December. 581 Movies in 365 Days
Movies Watched: 581
Movies To Go for
2.0: 0
Bonus Movies
Watched: 81
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