The Princess and the Frog

Yesterday I went to the movies to see my second film of 2010, The Princess and the Frog.  I am so excited that in the first 3 days of 2010 I have already seen 2 movies at the theater.  I am off to a great start.

The Princess and the Frog, Disney's newest animated feature, is set in New Orleans and tells the story of a young girl named Tiana.  Tiana has a gift for cooking.  What she wants most in life to fulfill her father's lifelong dream of opening a restaurant.  She wants it so badly that all she does is work day and night to save the money.  One evening at a fancy party that she is catering, she encounters a talking frog.  The frog is actually Prince Naveen who has come to New Orleans to find a rich wife as his own parents have cut him off financially.  He encounters the "Shadow Man" who uses vodoo to turn the prince into a frog.  He gets Tiana to kiss him, thinking it will turn him back into a prince.  Instead of turning him into a prince, the kiss turns Tiana into a frog as well.  Tiana and Naveen then go to the Bayou to find a way to turn themselves back into humans.  Along the way they encounter Lawrence, the trumpet playing crocodile, and Ray the firefly.  On their journey, they discover what you think you want most in your life and what you need isn't exactly the same thing.

I have said before that I am a huge fan of Disney animated movies.  I absolutely loved this one too.  The music was wonderful.  The characters, especially the supporting ones, were ones that you really could empathize with.  The animation was just wonderful.  As I was watching it, I had the thought cross my mind that I am going to have to buy this when it comes out on DVD to add to my collection. 

A word of warning:  if you have little kids that scare easily, some of the scenes in this movie might scare them.  It is dealing with vodoo and they show some pretty spooky spirits.  I only say this because way back when, my mom took me and my brother to see Snow White.  It didn't bother me a bit, but my brother was terrified of the witch.  He called her Snow White and my parents spent several months checking his closet to make sure Snow White wasn't after him.  My brother would probably kill me for tell that story, but what are big sisters for.

Well, I have 2 movies on my list for 2010.  I can't wait to see how many more I will see this year.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone.  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and have a wonderful 2010.  As most of you have probably done, I have made several New Years resolutions.  I probably won't keep them but I will give it the old college try.  I won't bore you with all of them.  The one I will probably have the best chance of keeping is this year I am going to keep track and see how many movies I can see in a year.  I am going to break it down into those I see in the theater and those I see for the first time on DVD.  I have a bad habit of forgetting the last movie I see so this will be a good way for me to keep track.  It will also keep me "in the know" for my job. 

Since today is January 1st, I thought this would be a good day for me to start my quest.  My brother and sister-in-law gave me a movie theater gift certificate for Christmas.  Since it didn't snow and the roads were good, Mom and I decided to put the gift to use go see "Did You Hear About the Morgans?".

"Did You Hear About the Morgans?" stars Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker as Paul and Meryl Morgan.  They live in New York and are currently estranged due to some infidelity on Paul's part.  They get together one evening to try and discuss their marital status.  Upon leaving the restaurant, they witness a murder.  Since they can identify the murderer, they will need to testify against him.  Because the murderer is still on the loose, they are put in the witness protection program and sent to Ray, Wyoming.  There they are guarded by Sam Elliot and Mary Steenburgen.  Needless to say the rest of the story is basically your "fish out of water" story.  And it is an absolutely hilarious "fish out of water" story.

I am a big Hugh Grant fan going back to his "Four Weddings and a Funeral" days.  He never ceases to crack me up.  In this film he cracks me up big time.   (I have come to the conclusion that I must have a thing for British guys.  But that is a whole other blog post).  Sarah Jessica Parker does a fine job as well.  Sam Elliot and Mary Steenburgen are great as the marshalls assigned to protect the Morgans.  It's amazing how many movies lately I have seen with Mary Steenburgen in them.  She is definately not lacking for work.  Sam Elliot continues to be one fine looking man.  I did get a  big surprise in this movie.  Wilford Brimley was in it.  Why does that surprise me?  I honestly thought he was dead.  I am not sure what gave me that idea.  But he's not.  I googled him after I got home from the movie and he's still kicking.  It's probably a good thing there were lots of people in the audience because I almost blurted out " He's alive" when he came on screen.

This movie funny the entire way through it.  As I told my mom afterward, it made me happy.  (She loved it too by the way).  I liked it so much,  I may just have to get it when it comes out on DVD.  

Well I saw my first film in the theater of 2010 (I almost typed 2009, better quit doing that).  It will be interesting to see how many I see this year.

It's beginning to look a lot like award show season time....

If you heard a high pitch squeal yesterday morning that you weren't sure where it was coming from, it was probably me when I realized that the Golden Globe nominations were announced yesterday.  The Golden Globes signals the beginning of the award show season.  I love award shows.  I am not sure why, I just do.  I especially like the Golden Globes as they break the movie categories into Comedy/Musical and Drama.  Comedic films tend to not get the appreciation they deserve in other award shows.  That is a shame.

There were several things that excited me about this years nominations.  They include:

1.  Sandra Bullock gets 2 nominations - Sandra Bullock is nominated in the Best Actress in a Comedy for The Proposal and Best Actress in a Drama for The Blindside.  I saw The Proposal and she was absolutely hilarious in it.  I have not seen The Blindside but have heard from those who have seen it that she is wonderful in it.  I have been a Sandra Bullock fan since she first came on the scene in Speed.  These 2 nominations are highly deserved.

2.  Meryl Streep gets 2 nominations in the same category - Meryl Streep got nominations in the Best Actress in a Comedy for her roles in Julie and Julia and It's Complicated.  I haven't seen It's Complicated (I really want to) but I did see Julie and Julia and loved it.  She nailed the part of Julia Child.

3.  George Clooney, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt all get nominations (well sorta) - George is nominated for Best Actor in a Drama for Up in the Air, Matt Damon got 2 nominations (one for Best Actor in a Comedy for The Informant and one for Best Supporting Actor in Invictus), Julia Roberts is nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy for Duplicity and Brad Pitt stars in the Best Drama nominee Inglorious Bastards.  If they all show up to the award show, it will be like a reunion of Ocean's 11 and 12.  Being a big Ocean's fan, this make me very happy.  George, Matt and Brad also bring the pretty so that doesn't hurt either.

4.  Anna Kendrick gets nominated - Anna Kendrick is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for the movie Up in the Air.  Why would this excite me if I haven't seen the movie?  Well, Anna also plays Jessica in the Twilight movies and she is adorable in those.  So I am very happy for her.

One thing that did perplex me about the nominations.  Invictus was nominated several times.  It looks like I may have to go see it.  I really don't want to.

The Golden Globes will be presented on January17.  I can't wait.

Weekend Movie Viewing

I actually got to watch 2 movies this weekend.  One movie fits in the Christmas season.  The other has a connection to my Twilight Obsession.  We will start with the Christmas movie first.

The first movie I watched was National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.  I have probably seen this movie a zillion times and probably will watch it a zillion times more.  I guess there is just something about watching the Griswold's have a traditional Christmas and failing miserably that just cracks me up.  (Mom, who I was watching it with, was amazed at how hard I was laughing)  Could it be I myself have experienced some disfunctional Christmas's myself?  Possibly, but haven't we all?

My favorite character in the whole story is Aunt Bethany.  I see myself in the future, going to either my niece or nephews and acting the same way.  You will have to watch the movie to see what I mean.

Fracture was the other movie I watched this weekend.  How does this fit in to my Twilight obsession you may ask?  Well, one of the characters is played by Billy Burke, who plays Bella's dad in the Twilight flicks.  Fracture tell the story of a man played by Anthony Hopkins who shoots his wife after he finds out she is having an affair (with the character played by Burke).  Ryan Gosling plays the DA who is in charge of prosecuting him. 

This is a pretty good film.   Since the murder was revealed in the first 20 minutes of the film, I was wondering what was going to happen.  It didn't disappoint.  Gosling and Hopkins were good as always.  If you like a good courtroom drama, I would recommend this one.

Opening in Theaters 12/11/09

There are two new movies opening in theaters this week.  One I really want to see.  The other I am really conflicted about.

1. The Princess and the Frog (rated G) - This is Disney's latest animated release.  It puts a twist on the classic kissing a frog and it turning into a prince storyline.   I love all things Disney, but it has been a while since they have had an animated feature other than their Pixar stuff that I have been interested in seeing.  (The last non Pixar Disney film I really liked was Chicken Little.  I highly recommend that one).  It has also been a while since they have had what would be considered a "Princess" film.  The clips I have seen of this look really good.  I am really looking forward to seeing this.  So is my niece.

2. Invictus (rated PG-13) - Invictus tells the true story of how newly elected Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) used the sport of rugby to unite South Africa.  Matt Damon plays the rugby captain that joins forces with Mandela to get this done.  I am really conflicted about whether or not I want to see this film.  I am a huge fan of Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.  I am also a huge sports film fan.  What is it that is keeping me from wanting to see this film?  It's directed by Clint Eastwood.  I am sure Mr. Eastwood is a very nice man, but I just can't stand his movies.  I have tried watching his movies.  I really have.  I have had better times watching paint dry.  (If you like Clint Eastwood movies, please don't be offended.  This is just my opinion.  You are entitled to yours).  Will I bite the bullet and see it?  Maybe.  I think I will wait until I get it for the library so I don't have to pay to see it.

That's what opening this weekend.  I don't know if I will get to the movies this weekend.  Too much Christmas shopping to do.

The Fans Fight Back “He Doesn’t Want This, Neither Do We”

I am getting on my soapbox now.  I like watching movies.  I like watching movies a lot.  When I find a movie I really like, I tend to get enamored with the stars of those movies.  Obviously, I have done it with the Twilight series and I have done it with others in the past.  I read the magazine articles about them and look at their pictures.  But, do I need to know every sorted detail of their lives?  NO.  I would kind of like it if I knew a little less about their private lives.  Do I enjoy looking at pictures where celebrities are chased down the street by the paparazzi? NO.  In those pictures, the celebrities don't look happy.  Why would I want to see that?  The only thing celebrities owe fans is a good performance.  That's it.

What brought this rant on?  This weekend, paparazzi photos of Rob Pattinson surfaced that were truely digusting.   He had went to a concert of one of his friends and while leaving, the photographers, for lack of a better word, ambushed him.  In one photo, he was literally backed up against the wall.  It was truely sad. 

I wasn't the only one that was disgusted.  Several sites got together and started "The Fans Fight Back "He doesn't want this, Neither do We" campaign.  They had fans send in photos of themselves with their faces covered.  The photos are posted on the Thinking of Rob website.  They currently have 1000+ photos.  They also have a video of some of the photos one Youtube.

I think this campaign is really impressive.  If it just changes the mind of a few people not to look at the paparazzi picture or buy magazines that publish them, then it will be worth it.

In case you are wondering, yes, I did send my picture in.  Here it is:

My picture did make it on the part one of the video that was made.  I encourage you to watch it. (Not because I am in it)

I will get off my soapbox now.

Opening in Theaters 12/4/09

Please don't fall off your chairs, I am actually doing a post on what is opening in theaters this week for the 2nd week in a row.  I am so excited.  I may get into the groove of this blogging thing yet.

1. Armored (rated-PG-13)- This is the story of a bunch of armored truck guards who plan a robbery of their own trucks.  Like all good action movies, the plan doesn't go as expected.  Not sure if I really want to see this one.  The only thing that might make me want to see it is the fact that Matt Dillion is in it.  I am a child of the '80s.  Matt Dillion was pretty hot in the '80s.

 2.  Brothers (rated R) - Toby Maguire stars as a solider who gets shipped to Afghanistan.  An incident happens and he is presumed dead.  Jake Gyllenhal stars as his brother who steps in to help his wife (played by Natalie Portman) and kids.  You don't need to see the movie to know that no good is going to come out of that.  This movie looks mildy intriguing mainly because I am a huge Toby Maguire fan.  I don't know if that is enough to make me go to the theater to see it.  This may be a view on DVD movie.

3.  Everybody's Fine (rated PG-13) - Robert De Niro stars as a widower who sets out to get back in touch with his grown children.  What he finds is that kids are anything but fine.  Also starring Drew Barrymore, this film looks cute.  I am assuming since there is a Christmas tree in the background of the poster, that it may be set around Christmas time.  Since I am a Christmas movie fan, I might have to see this one. We will wait and see.



That is what is opening this week.  I hope that everyone has a great weekend.