The List: #205- Georgia (9/50)

 So, every one of the other states has really had a plan to visit well in advance. Georgia is the exception. 

So, we did have a plan in going to Georgia, but it was like a couple of week before. Not months and months like the others. 

So, what did we do is Georgia?

My roommate and I found out that the Cosm was playing the first Harry Potter movie there! Cosm is a shared reality screening room. It's like The Sphere is Vegas but it's smaller, and there aren't any like real life things coming at you like the apples do when we saw The Wizard of Oz. 

My roommate, Sarah, liked this better than The Spere, where I liked the Sphere. They are both really fun, and worth the money to go see a something you like there.

We weren't there super long. We stayed with her sister that night and went swimming in the morning. It was a quick trip but it counts!

Until the next one!

The List: #153- Sing at The Muny

 Well, this one is pretty straight forward. However, when I wrote this I thought I would somehow be on the stage. That is no longer something I want. However, the what I wrote is what I have in the title. So, being there for a show, and singing with everyone at the venue is good enough for me. 

Yes, I do have proof!

No, I am not claiming to be a good singer. Yes, the video is very dark but it's an outdoor theater and the sun was down. Nothing I can do. Yes, I embarrassed my niece doing this. Yes, it was worth it to cross this off my list. 

Hopefully, not every time I go somewhere it will be like a million things off my list, but I think this might be the case for a little bit.  

The List: #13- See All Landmarks from Meet Me in St. Louis

 Meet Me in St. Louis was the first time that I was able to recognize Judy Garland outside of her role in The Wizard of Oz. My mom introduced me to this movie when I was younger because I love musical, and she is from St. Louis. So, it was a match made in heaven. 

So when I started making this list at 18, it was high up there to see all of the places mentioned. 

That proved to be harder that I thought. Beside the fact that the movie was filmed on a backlot of MGM, the places that are mentioned are general places, or no longer exists.

These are the places that I have been to since like 2013.

So, my mom swears that this spot near the train at the St. Louis Zoo looks likes the end of the movie were Judy Garland says "right here in St. Louis" and I don't see it. However, I'm going to count it.

 

In the film, the address of where they live is sung. However, the original house was torn down some time ago, and we didn't really know that when we went to try and see it. I took this very bad picture of the road sign, and a pic of another cute house on the road for reference of what it might have looked like. 

While the bird cage at the zoo is not actually mention in the the movie, it is an original structure that they build for the 1904 worlds fair. So, here you go!

So, other than the house, and some of the stuff at the zoo, the only two places that are really a thing or the trolley, which not longer exists, and Forest Park. While Forest Park is not mention directly in the film, the whole of Forest Park was part of the 1904 world's fair and was "shown" in the film. So, while I would have love to take a real trolley ride, I can't, and I figured the event I went to at Forest Park would be the perfect place and conclude my quest. 

The Muny was built in 1917, in Forest Park. It's been host to many shows over the years, and this year they had the play Meet Me in St. Louis. 

The play is actually based off of the 1944 Film that Star Judy Garland, and where the song "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" originated from. The stage play came about 40 years after the movie in 1984. Which, if you have seen both, make some of the changes and songs make sense as to why that were added, and stuff like that. 

It was so hot, but it was so much fun! I got to go see the show with my Aunt, Uncle, cousin, two nieces, mom, sister-in-law, and a friend of my older niece. We had great seats, and I loved the show! 

So, while it's not a 100% accurate seeing of the landmarks, I did the best I could with what I had. 

However, being at The Muny gave me one more item crossed off the list...

The List: #205- Missouri (8/50)

 We have hit another state! I feel like I am going to several and I feel like I'm going to slow down. however, we are going to ride this out for as long as we can!

This time, I went to Missouri.

So, I didn't really get a whole lot of pictures on this trip. I went up with my parents and niece to see my family. 

We had a great time. We really hung out and stuff with my family but we did go to Grant's Farm and the Muny to see a show. 

The last time that we go to St. Louis we tired to go to Grant's Farm, but it was way to busy and we didn't get to go. However, we went this time and it was wonderful! We went with my Older brother, my sister-in-law, and my oldest niece. We all enjoyed a round at the Beer Garden they have there at Grant's Farm. I younger niece and I got to see the World Famous Budwiser Clydesdales!

One of the other things that we got to do was go see Meet Me in St. Louis at The Muny! It's an outdoor theater inside Forrest Park in St. Louis. It's where the 1904 World's Fair was held, which is the setting of the show take place. The move, which is what the show is based off of, is from 1944 and stars Judy Garland. There will be more about this show in an other post. 

I did get to go through Kentucky again, and got to stay at an amazing hotel where there was a tour being held. which was amazing! 

I had a wonderful time, and I can't wait to write about the other two things I got to check off of my list during this trip!  

 

Now Fly! Fly!: Ella Enchanted

 We FIANLLY get that chance to review Ella Enchanted!

Ella has been carrying a curse! She must obey every request anyone has ever told her. Her mother and her mother' best friend are the only two that know of this "gift" that Ella's Fairy Godmother gave her. Ella tries everything to not obey, and live her life without her body literally betraying her to make sure she does obey. After her mother dies her father brings home a step-mother and two step-sisters who make her life miserable right away. When her step-sisters find out that she has to do everything she says she starts to dismantle Ella's life. That is until she meets the Prince, and starts on an adventure to return her "gift" and possible right many wrong in the kingdom. However, more sinister characters are lurking around that is looking for way to use her obedience against her. 

I love this movie! Every year I feel like we are going to be able to use it for a theme, but there are always better movies to have for those themes. 

However, I thought that this movie was going to easy when it came to how it relates to faith, and what it means to obey.

Forced obedience is not that same as faithful obedience. 

Ella was tried in her obedience because it was forced. Like to an obscene level. An example is the Prince tell her to "wait here" and she is forced to stand in the middle of the road, and almost get hit by a carriage because he body refuses to move because of the curse she had. She is literally at the mercy of the people around her. She is basically a robot that has no control over her life.

Which is why God did not create us to be this way. God wants us to obey Him because we choose to and love Him. Listening to what He says to do is the best thing we can do for ourselves. God never wanted to force us to love Him. He wanted us to choose to love him. 

Now, I need to learn to carry this reminder with me as I go forward in life. 

Brian Tyler Takeover: Law Abiding Citizen

So, Before I get in to this movie, I will be honest. There was another movie call Middle Men that Brian Tyler did the music for. It's not a scary movie so I should have watched it, and written about it. However, I started it, and once I realized what that movie was about, I said "nope" and turned it off. So, I will not be reviewing that movie. 

Now, onto Law Abiding Citizen.

Clyde Shelton's life is turned upside sown when one night two men break into his house and kill his wife and daughter. He spend that next several year finding ways to get revenge on all of those who did wrong, including the lawyer that refused to take the case to full trial. 

It's been a little bit since I watch a thriller, and I love Mr. Tyler's music when it comes to this genre! This is the closest that I will get to watching a scary movie that he composes, but I am sure those are just as good and playing at that suspence!

As for the movie it's self, it was really good. However, it was much darker that I thought it was going to be! It's hard to not have a good movie when you have Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx as the stars!

Brian Tyler Takeover: Fast & Furious

 So, now is the point int he series that we start getting the names of the movies confuse. Today's is the 4th in the franchise Fast & Furious. What is not only the name of this movie the the name in which everyone calls the series. 

It's also not to be confused with the the very first movie The Fast and The Furious. 

So, here is the confusing part about this movie.... it's supposed the be the 3rd in the series. Now, from my very quick google search, the did it this way because the original cast was able to get back together for this film, and everyone loved Han and wanted to make it make sense as to why they know each other? Truly, I don't get it but whatever. This movie opens with Letty dying, and Dom finding out and going on a rampage to avenge her death. Brian happens to be working with the feds, still, to find the same drug lord that Dom is hunting. They have to work together to bring down the whole operation. 

So, this movie was still fun. I am like waiting for when they aren't... even though I have already seen the 10th one and I loved it.. 

I think Mr. Tyler's music works best for this franchise, and I think other agree with me since he is the composer to most of the other ones.