Year of Learning: Brooklyn

Well, cutting it close again as always! I did actually finish the book at the start of the month but there was many things that got in the way of me actually watching the movie.

I did watch it last night and while I am at my family's house to watch the ball drop into the New Year, I am giving my last review an preparing to go into the next challenge for the year.

The book and movie that I have saved for December is Brooklyn. 

I have seen a little bit of the movie when it started being aired on TV. It looked like it was really going to be good. I was really looking forward to reading the book as well. When I started reading the book it thought it was really slow. This is not a book that is full of action, or grand adventure. It really is just a story of a girl who goes to a new world for a better opportunity. However, she goes reluctantly. She didn't want to leave her home, friends, mother and sister. She would have been happy to just be in Ireland all of her days and never leave. However, her sister arranges it so that she does go to Brooklyn. We slowly watch her grow to love her new home and the people that are in it.

I hated the ending of the book. It was a lot of confusion and emotions and then there is no real resolution. I know that is how it was supposed to be. I know that is was supposed to make you wonder about what is going to happen to her. However, I didn't like that it was just the end of the book.

However, the movie didn't really match up to the characters in the book. We get more insight when it comes to the book. She really cares about her friends and family. We have these wonderful descriptions of everyone she loves, and it's just glossed over in the movie.

Overall, I have to say that both were ok. I really don't think that they are something that will be on my favorites list. 

Year of Learning: The Thin Man

Well... this is odd... I am writing about this movie twice in the same year. I did the movie earlier this year when Alaina finally got the chance to watch it. When I found out that this was originally a book I really wanted to read it. I wanted to see everything play out in it's ending and how Nick and Nora interact with each other.

Ladies and Gentleman The Thin Man. 

Like I said I was really excited about reading this book. That is until I read the other books that were in this type of drama and I was regretting it. The other books were really hard to get through and I didn't care for them much. Thankfully when it came to this book I didn't have any problem getting into it. I really did like reading this book. It helped me to understand the characters a little bit better and to follow along with what was happening.

The relationship between Nick and Nora was great in the book but when putting it from book to screen they made it funnier and they made more fun. Which is fine by me cause I hope to have a relationship like theirs one day.

There was one part of this book that I was really looking forward to reading. The end! The part  is the movie where all of the suspects are invited to dinner and then he talks about how it was done and who the culprit was! I was really disappointed when they didn't happen in the book! Like that was what I was waiting for and it wasn't there! I guess that is alright because it worked out really well for the movie!

I have to say that the book was great but this is one time I have to say the movie was better.

Tome Hanks Hustle: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Toward the end of 2018 I heard that Tom Hanks was going to be playing Fred Rogers. At the time I honestly could not believe there was a better person out there to play him.

Then after seeing the trailer I knew they could not have picked a better person! When I was younger I did watch some of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood but not a ton of it. It's really been when I joined facebook and all of the wonderful stored about Fred Rogers started to go viral and I got to see more of the show. I got to know more about him and his life. When I read up more about him and saw the videos all it did was make me wonder why a movie about this man has not yet been done before! 

I am very pleased to say that this movie was excellent! 

As great as the advertising was the this movie is really failed to mention what the movie was about. Yes, it's about Mister Rogers but not about his life or the work he did, or how he saved PBS. The story is really about Lloyd Vogel. Mr. Vogel was sent by the Magazine he works for, Esquire, to do a segment about heroes. One of the people that they wanted interviewed was Mister Rogers. Vogel got the job because Fred Rogers was the only one person willing to be interviewed by him. Vogel has a reputation for digging up some not great information on the people he was interviewing. He met his match when he met Fred Rogers. 

One of the wonderful things that I have read about Mr. Rogers over the years was the fact that he was a hard man to interview. This was because Fred Rogers wanted to get to know the person who is doing the interviews himself so the interviewer became the interviewee. He really did have a heart for people. All people of all the shapes and colors that you can think of not just children. 

It was because of this fact of Fred Rogers that the move rally focused on Lloyd Vogel. It was about his work, and family, and his friendship with Fred Rogers. Yes, we did get to learn more about Mr. Rogers but really we got to see how Fred Rogers' friendship changed one man's life during some big changes in his life. Lloyd Vogel just became a father, and he was loosing his father at the same time.

However, meeting Mr. Rogers really helped him to cope with his anger and confusion in a way he never knew how before. This is what Mr. Rogers' show was all about. Showing how we can express our feelings of sadness and anger without hurting those around us. Doing this really helped Lloyd Vogel cope with how to be a father he never really had and for trying to get to understand his father in a way he wanted before he dies.  

I was really surprised about how well Tom Hanks did as being Mr. Rogers. It was amazing just how he acts and he really seems to become Mr. Rogers. One of the best scenes in the movie was when he asks Mr. Vogel to have one minute of silence. It really was a whole minute in the movie of where everything became silent. Not just in the movie but the whole theater that I was in with people they all got silent as well. I could not hear anyone take a breathe, no one ate their popcorn, no one talked, whispered or coughed. I have seen many a movie in the theater in my day and extremely few bring an audience into one single moment as a unit as that scene in this movie did. To make everyone pay attention to that moment to that silence was not deafening, it was not uncomfortable. It was warm and hopeful. It was how you would feel if Mr. Rogers was really with you in the moment. It was.... Beautiful.

I have to say that this is one of Tom Hanks' best performances. This is one of the best movies I have seen this year. I would be disappointed if neither the film or Hanks were no nominated for an Academy Award. I guess time will tell for that. I think though this is a film that everyone needs to see and enjoy. Even if you are not really familiar with Mr. Rogers it should still been seen. 

 

Tom Hanks Hustle: Toy Story 4

So, I apparently forgot to review the 4th movie in the Toy Story franchise. It's a Tom Hanks movie and I can't believe that I forgot about it!

Ok... 

So there is a reason that it's was forgotten... because it's a forgettable movie. I am not sure why it's was thought necessary to make a 4th movie. Like I did want to know what happened to Bo Peep. I wanted to know she was ok and stuff but I didn't need a whole movie about it.

Then to come to the end of the movie to find that Woody splits with everyone else to go with her! WHY!! We spent 3 movies on the importance of staying together for him to just leave!

Nope. No happy with the movie at all...…..

Best Picture Challenge: Green Book

So, after many months I finally got my act together and watch the Best Picture winner of 2018 Green Book. 

Green Book is about the unlikely friendship between Tony Lip and Dr. Don Shirley in 1962 New York. Tony Lip works security in the Copacabana Night Club. During it's renovation he has to find some temporary work. He gets a call that Dr. Don Shirley is looking for a driver for two months. When he goes for the interview he find out that Dr. Shirley is a famous black musician that is going to be doing a tour in the south. The deep south. He needs someone to drive him to the shows, and also to protect him as well. 

Over the years I have watched many movies that are during this time period in America. Segregation is rampant in the south, laws continue to separate those who are white and those who are not. However, most of the movies during this time are about people who made the biggest strides to change the laws, like Dr. Martin Luther King, or schools that had to desegregate like in the movie Remember the Titans. Manly they are about people who worked they way up to be in the history books and be remembered forever. This really is not the typical story we get from this time period in American History.

Dr. Don Shirley is not the typical story of a black man trying to change the world in the 60s. He is a man who has already mad a name for himself, all across America, for the way he can play music. He is already established, has fame, money, and knows what he likes and what he doesn't. He is someone who is "elite" meaning that he is someone who already has more privileges than most of us, no matter what color you are. That is why I have enjoyed this movie so much. 

I think when we got back and look at our history we think of the people of the past like we are now. We but ourselves into their shoes as much as week can. In school when we learn about segregation it's taught about through the eyes of an everyday American. You don't think about the people who have money or fame. You don't think of the people who have names for themselves. We don't even talk about those much other than when the laws changed and who were the biggest players to get the laws to change. We think about being the the sit ins, the protests, the marches. We forget about the "elites" anyone and everyone who has some sort of privilege in means of money, or fame. We forget about the people like Dr. Don Shirley. 

Again, Dr. Shirley was a very well known man across America. He lived in an apartment above Carnegie Hall, he was famous and never wanted for nothing. We, in our modern heads, who didn't live through that kind of separation of people, don't really think about how he was treated when he went places. I think we just assume, well I did, that he would get a "pass" because he was famous. However, seeing this movie really opened my eyes to that not being the case at all. 

This is a man who volunteered to go to the most segregated parts of our country to perform to the people who did pay him to go. He was invited to some of the most beautifully built homes in the south and was still expected to us and outhouse instead of the indoor bathroom. He would be invited to stay in beautiful theaters to play but not allowed to eat in their restaurants. He was applauded for being on stage and performing music like no one else could but off the stage he was still seen as less than a human being. Dr. Shirley has a special gift that people of today would love to have, and would probably get paid great money to perform, but was not treated with the same dignity off the stage as he was on.

I am not going to forget about Mr. Tony Lip. If you just watch the preview of this film and not the whole film you miss a very important detail about Tony. He is Italian. Now, if you go back to your history books you will remember that, even though their cultures are predominately white, Italians and Irish peoples where persecuted in this country too. So, even though we see that he has people being prejudiced against him he is still prejudiced against Dr. Shirley. He originally declines to take the job because he doesn't like the idea of being a drive for a black man. He tells Dr. Shirley that he has to pay him more and then he will go. After thinking about it Dr. Shirley agrees to his demands and Tony becomes his driver. After spending weeks with him out on the road he starts to see what makes Dr. Shirley so special and get to learn about his life. He finds a friendship he didn't expect to get. Not only that but it changed his perspective about how equal people really are.

What this movie was not quite what I was expecting it ended up being a great movie about friendship, self worth, love and sacrifice.  

The List: #46- Go to an Unexpected Concert

Well, after 11 months I finally get to write one of these! 

I get to cross off number 46 on me list. Go to and Unexpected Concert. 

So, confession I actually changed this listing earlier this year. When I decided to write about crossing these off this year I realized there were a few that I had written down that I didn't really want to do anymore. Originally this was go and see a Taylor Swift concert.

That was back with Taylor Swift actually had good music. 

However, I changed it cause I really don't want to see Taylor Swift anymore. However, there was no one else that I really wanted to see so much to put on my list. So, I decided to put and unexpected concert on there instead to see what might happen. 

Oh and all of the things that did happen. 

I have mentioned before that I love the Tennessee Theatre. Over the last few years I have have been very blessed to get to know some of the wonderful people who work there. Which has been great because they have asked me to volunteer for stuff in the last two years. Last night they asked me to check in VIP ticket holders for their Stars on Stage Gala that benefits The Tennessee Theatre. The star on the stage last night was EmmyLou Harris. 

So, here is how this happened. Last week I was buying a shirt from the Tennessee Theatre (long story won't get into it), when I ran into the head of marketing and the Executive Director for the Theatre. They told me they were just talking about me and asked me to Volunteer to check in the VIPs. I said yes of course! They told me that after I was done helping them that I could go to the concert. 

Now, I have heard of Emmylou Harris but I have not heard any of her songs before. So, I was excited to see someone that I had no experience of listening to before. Her concert was really good and it's was really just about the music. There wasn't a whole lot of lighting or changes of scenery on stage. It felt more like we were at a jam session and she was telling us about her career. 

I have to say that being able to cross something off my list and being able to help my favorite place in the whole world is really the best way to spend a Thursday night. Hopefully, more of those will happen in the future!

Year of Learning: The Fault in Our Stars

So, after SEVERAL months of being behind I finally caught up! Well, I caught up to the month I am supposed to be at, November, but I have not read the November book yet. We will be caught up for sure very soon!

Back to our book for October, The Fault in Our Stars. 

Now, I knew before I ever read the book or watched the movie that it was going to be sad. It was going to be wonderful, but sad. It was going to somehow give hope, but be sad. It would bring joy, but be sad. It was going to be sad, but still more sad than I could have imagined. Still, it was going to be. Just be.

All I knew about this plot of the story was from the movie previews. It was about a girl who was sick, and about a boy she meets. That I knew it was going to be a love story or sorts. That's all though. That the thing about movie trailers these days, they show you how cool the movie looks without actually giving you an idea what the movie is about. 

Here is what I have to say. 

Hollywood really sucks at making a movie based off of a book.

I know that I have already proved this to myself a few times this year, but really they do. The book is 313 pages long. The movie is just over 2 hours. How is it that they can not make a movie longer and give it the same timeline and places for parts to happen as they do in the book. Yes, I have said it already I know they changed things to flow better in for a movie point of view. However, this movie would have been perfect to do for a movie. It's already written in Hazel Graces voice. You are already living these same moments with her in the book. You have have done it in the movie too. You could have had her narrate the whole movie and that would have been great. Yet, they didn't. They let it go. 

The best parts of this story is the friendships that were built. Hazel Grace and Augustus had a beautiful friendship that does go to more, however, the movie missed just how much Issac played into the whole thing. Hazel and Issac ended up have a great friendship of their own that is wonderful and really underdeveloped and all but assumed just happened in the film. There are a great many moments that we never got to see from those two, like Hazel visiting Issac in the hospital after his eye surgery. How they played video games together, or enjoyed each other's company. It doesn't even show how close the relationship of Issac and Augustus had at all. It was like Issac was just a guy to put in when they needed him to move a point along in the story rather than being apart of both their lives. 

I hated they showed the relationship of Hazel's parents to her. They did an okay job of showing how sarcastic they are, in a loving way, to each other. However, the other love that they showed, about how much her dad cried, and how much she knew how tired her mom was, was never played out. Her own feelings about what her cancer is doing to them are never expressed in the movie. 

I think that is what is the thing that doesn't make sense for book to movie adaptations. How is it that they can make these great relationships in all kinds of movie but when it comes to this kind of adaptation it is always missed in translation. I mean the book has it literally written out for you and they miss it by miles. Just because the words used to express the emotion in the book are not spoken by someone doesn't mean they should be ignored. 

I will say this about the book. It was sad, I think I have made myself abundantly clear on that, but it did get me thinking about what our own stories mean when we are gone. Augusts feared "oblivion". That after he was gone who is going to remember him and what was he going to be remembered for. I think we all fear that in a way. We all want to be known for something, or at least have the chance to. However, I know that my name is not going to end up in any History book. I will not be in a hall of fame. I write blog that no one reads, or may two or three do, but even though I will not be known for something I know a part of me will go on. I believe that we are not "self made". We don't come from nothing and we don't become nothing after we are gone. Every one of us has a genetic history, personal history, and while the history of me will never be written. The fact my history exists could inspire someone else to go and be a name in a history book one day. Something I have not yet done could start a chain reaction to have someone in the future make a great change in this world. Even, just smiling at a stranger could give them hope at the right time and place to keep going so they can be the inspiration for someone to do something amazing and be known for it. 

We are all build by the people not only in our everyday lives but by those who we see once and never again. The stories, good and bad, that we read or watch or experience get carried with us and get engraved into own beings and gradually change us overtime to become whoever it will be one day. Our lives are the millions of little things that we pick up from the everyday, from every person, and from the little of moments who don't normally think about. Even what I am writing now, if someone is ever reading it, will somehow be a part of your future later. You may not quote what I am saying, or remember that I said it but it's something that will shape some part of you and might prepare you for something that will be coming. 

One of the best quote from The Fault in Our Stars is "Pain demands to be felt". I like the quote because we often try to hide our pain. We try to ignore it. To Push it down. Pain is something that is hard to keep down for long because it comes out of no where. It's sudden not gradual. It's everywhere at once. It's an instant demand. In order to get through that pain is needs to be experienced. It has to happen. We have to make it's presence known so we will be able to move forward to experience the good in life again. Pain helps us to put our lives in perspective. For without it how would we know the the thrill of all the other emotions without something to compare it to. 

Don't forget dear reader...

While joy, sadness, fear, hope, love, and peace do not instantaneously demand to be known as soon as they show up, they still demand to be felt. For it's in some of these moments that remind ourselves what the pain is good for.

Year of Learning: The Hunger Games

"May the odd be ever in your favor"

The best line to quote from the movie or book, The Hunger Games.

So, way back when this book first came out I had no clue it existed. It wasn't until after the second book, and the announcement of this first move that it was even on my radar. The only reason it was on my radar then was a friend of mine made me read the book.

Now, I read the book because my friend made me. I basically read the book just to get through the book and said I read it. That is how I read the whole series.

There were one or two things that really stuck out with me. However, the rest never retained in my mind. I went to the midnight premiere, you know when those used to be a big deal, and saw the film. I even dressed up. For whatever reason the movie didn't stay with me either. It kind came and went and I was over it. I bought the blue ray when it came out but I don't remember it after that really.

However, I am older, wiser, and I actually wanted to read the book this time around and I missed out on so much the first time.

I was really dreading reading this book because I was thinking "what if I read it just to get through it again"? Thankfully, when I started it was interested and did feel a need to rush through it. There was a lot more background set up than I remember but after watching the movie, and seeing how much was missed, I realized why it was so important. That set up does a wonderful job of setting up relationships, how Katniss sees them, with the people in her life. The love for her sister and father, the coolness to her mom after her father died, the stress of being the one to take care of the family after her father died. Her friendship with Gale, her love of hunting, and how she sees what District 12 is like. It sets up how Panem came to be.

It is all of this set up that shows the depth of her choice to take her sister's place in the Hunger Games. It is also the depth that the movie doesn't fully provide. They do their best, and there is depth here that the rest of the film comes off of, but when you read the book you feel like the people who haven't are really missing something. The fact that we don't get a running dialog from Katniss's head we miss out on so much.

The theme of togetherness was hardly played in the movie at all. When Haymitch, Katness, and Peeta are on the train and going to the capitol they start prove to Haymitch they are fighters and starts to help them come up with strategies. In order to do that he has to know if they want to train with him together or separate and they choose together. From that point on he tells them that they need to be a united from and a team. They need to work together and come into the games as a team. They wear the same outfits in the the opening ceremonies, they hold hands as well (not in a romantic way mind you), they train together at every station in the prep room for the games. They work together to develop skills, and that is something Katniss sees from the beginning. That ever other district how two tributes but they are not a team. They want to beat the other more than anything where Katniss and Peeta want to survive. That is why Katniss finds out that Peeta wants to train alone hurts so much because she was trusting him a little and she thinks that he just ditched her.

Peeta and her's relationship is really something to is so complicated in the book and it being played on screen lacked everything really. In the book there is this constant back and forth from Katniss of trying to act like she falls for her, trying to be "madly in love" and he is doing most of the heavy lifting cause we know that he is in love with her. She doesn't feel that way for him. Peeta does all of the work to make her desirable. Once Haymitch and Peeta know she can't act to literally save her life, Peeta does everything he can to make it real and desirable. In the film none of it is shown as it should have been. Like in the book during the interviews before the games all of the Tributes go out and are called up to do the interview and everyone sees everyone else facial reactions. They all share a stage. So, when Peeta comes out and says he is in love with Katniss she is shocked but also has to play it cool cause she is on camera. However, in the movie they didn't share a stage and she looses it after they are safe away from the public eye.

It's these complications that we don't know the depth of that a lot of small things were left out of the movie. Like when we find out Peeta is working with an alliance to find her and comes out of the tree and smirks like that was the plan all along. In the book she does this and thinks something to the effect of "let the Capitol figure out what that smile means". These loss of inner thoughts also loose to a few facts of "slower" days in the arena. Like she she finds out that Peeta has been severely injured. Or her thoughts on Rue and how much she cares for her. How much of a threat Cato is. Like that fact that he is hunting her down. How much the bow and arrow means to her cause she is "no longer prey". How Foxface got her nickname, cause Peeta says it once in the whole movie but Katniss had been thinking it through the whole book. There is a lot of those character development that are missed for that.

Then there are a some big plot points that not mention but I remember play roles later on! Peeta was really injure the hunger games and lost a leg! He was never the injured in the movie and never went to surgery. Actually, neither of them were hospitalized after the games. They came out, got dressed and went to the stage. Katniss was supposed to have totally lost her hearing in the left ear. While, she went momentarily deaf in both ears in the movie, she got her hearing back. From what I remember the second book that was a big deal! She was going to use that excuse a scapegoat to finding the edge of the arena I think (It's been a while since I have read the books remember). Also, in the end of the book it's reveled to Peeta that this was all act for her. He really is in love with her and she is not. He thought something really changed in the that time together and she realizes she might have the potential one day to love him (which is way more than what she thought she would ever have) but at this moment doesn't. Where in the movie you are not sure if he was ever really in love with her. It's like both of them are an act.

Then in the movie there is the thing that we see what is happening outside of the games at some points. Like when Haymitch tells the person in charge of the games to not outright kill Katniss but make the capitol believe in young love. He is the reason for the rule change during the games. However, in the book we don't know why that happens. Then when Katniss buries Rue in flowers and give the symbol to District 11 they riot. Where in the book we are not sure if they riot or not but they band together and send her bread. She took it knowing how much of a sacrifice that was for them. Also, seeing Gale during the cave scene while she was kissing Peeta gave the idea that was going to be a thing later when in the beginning of the movie there was nothing romantic at all. It was weird seeing what was going on while the games were happening. I know that it there to help set up things in the next movie but in the book we were oblivious to all of this. We were living int he moment with Katniss the whole time.

There are a few things that I like better in the movie than in the film. I love Haymitch! Ok, he was better written in the book but I love seeing Woody Harrelson really is all it is. When I was reading the book I remember who played him and that I all I could see in my head. The other thing that I like more in the movie was Peeta.

Peeta in both the book and movie come from homes that are not as happy as you would think. They both share the same skill set. They both do a really good job of winning the crowd over to like him and Katniss. However, in the book sets up to the plate when he needs to but is really not "take charge" other than when he is in front of the camera. After he is injured and brought back to health he is kinda throwing a pity party the whole time. She complains and wants to go back to the cave, he is easily pushed around. He got on my last nerve sometimes. In the movie. He know when to take charge and when to step back. He doens't throw a pity party ever chance he gets. He has one right after he is chosen to be Tribute and tells about what his mom saying about Katniss winning the hunger games. After that he is determined to find out everything he can to survive. He isn't easily offended and he doesn't seem to be living in la la love land so often. In fact we don't even know at the end of the movie is he loves her or if that was his plan all along.

The very first time I read the book and watched this movie I thought it was the best adaptation I have ever seen. Now, doing both again I see I was completely wrong. The lack of depth of Katniss's thoughts really left me wanting more. I am sure this is something that people who have never read the book would miss but I did. I think I will reread the other two books and watch the movie but I will have to do that later next year cause there will be no way I can before the end of the year. It will be interesting to rediscover all of these books and movies again.

Just Another Movie Monday: Grumpy Old Men

The next movie on Movie Monday we watched Grumpy Old Men. 

Now, I know that I have seen the very ending of the movie. However, watching the whole movie was great!

However, It was extra great cause Alaina recognized Jack Lemmon! Which does this this heart a whole lot of good!!

Anyways, this is another case of great casting! I mean Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthou, Ann Margret! I mean I love all of them!

What I do know there is a sequel to this movie that is going to be great to watch! Which I don't think I have seen any of that movie. However, it's going to be a lot of fun watching this with people I love!

Just Another Movie Monday: What Women Want

So, in the last post I said I liked the movie from last Monday a lot better that Jerry Maguire or however you freaking spell the name.

The movie that we ended up watching was What Women Want. 

Now, I know there was a remake of the movie recently and honestly I wasn't interested in it. However, Jeannie told me that it was going to be great cause the original was really REALLY good!

The fact that the movie started out with Big Band Music, and Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack singing gave me hope that it was already going to be better.

Then watching all of the names coming across the screen, Mel Gibson, Alan Alda, Marisa Tomi, Hlen Hunt, and so on. I was really excited that this movie was going to be far superior.

AND IT WAS!!!!

Oh my gosh! If I wasn't sold from the music and the cast, I was totally sold when Mel Gibson was totally pulling a Fred Astaire dancing with the coat rack to Frank Sinatra singing!

The only real problem I had was for like half of the movie I was trying to figure where I have heard Mel Gibson's voice before.

Yes, I know Braveheart but I knew that I knew it from a cartoon.

I felt like the worse Disney fan every when I had to look up what else he had been in and find out that he is the voice OF FREAKIN JOHN SMITH in Pocahontas.

However, I am shocked that I have never seen this movie before. Ok, I think I have seen the very end of this movie in passing but I really never knew what it was about. I loved it! I love the cast, I love the music, I loved how funny it was! I loved how sweet it was! I will totally love all of this again when I watch it one day!!! 

Just Another Movie Monday: Jerry Maguire

Movie Mondays!

This is a new weekly (hopefully) tradition of watching films the Jeannie has decided to make me watch. These are mainly 80s films but there are all sorts of years really. We did Jerry Maguire a few weeks ago. I had a lot of stuff going on and didn't realize that I haven't said anything about it.


Trust me it won't take that long for this film.


Honestly, I didn't like it.


I just hate Tom Cruise... Sorry it's true. I have never really like him, it isn't that good to look at either. This whole movie was awkward to say that least. They had this love story that didn't really make sense. It started to and then it went on and you could tell Tom Cruise was trying to make it seem like he was in love, when he wasn't. Then they were like "lets get married" and he hated it......

Then he realized he was in love? Which came out of left field. Then they lived happily ever after? Like I love romantic comedies, even though they are unrealistic, but this..... was even unrealistic for a romantic comedy.


I tried.... I tried really hard to like it. I tried to seem like it was a great movie. Even weeks after watching it. I still can't believe that movie was just that bad.


Thankfully we finally had another Movie Monday last night and watched a better movie. That is a is a different story for a different day.

Year of Learning: The Postman Always Rings Twice

The Postman Always Rings Twice.... is a book....  that I just couldn't do. 

Well, that is not totally true. I did read the book, and watched the movie, but I really didn't enjoy either that much.

I am really starting to think that Film Noir and Noir type books are just not my thing.....

The book just felt odd.... It was a whopping 116 pages long. I thought I was gonna fly through it in a few days and be done... but that did not happen. It took me forever and a day to read this book. I can sit thought a movie I don't like knowing that it will end. However, I can't force myself to read if I don't like it. Really I read it cause I didn't want to let myself down. I have completed every other challenge that made for myself in the last few years and I didn't want this one to stop me. 

Thankfully, the rest of the books I have planned this year are going to be books that I am going to be more interested in. The problem is the discipline to make myself read them. I hope that once I get started that I will want to finish them instead of wishing they were already over. 

Year of Learning: The Help

So.....

I am still really far behind. I read The Help and watched the movie in about a week. However, I totally forgot about writing about it....

Summer, apparently, is my slow time for my challenges. I get caught up in doing a million different things and set all of this to the side. I have been able to finish all of my challenges for my goal time. I am sure I can do this one too.

Anyways, back to The Help.

The book by Kathryn Stockett  was a Marvelous!

This is one of those that I have seen the movie before but never the read the book. It has been a few years since I have seen the movie. The book was written in the narrative of three people. That way you got multiple view points of what was going on. It's Aibileen, Minnie, and Skeeter are the view points you see. The plan that Skeeter comes up with is to write a book about the maids in her county, and about how they are treated and how they live. I like this narrative because it's not just Skeeter. You get all of the interactions and all of the worries, and excitement from all different angles. 

The movie lacks in the narrative in comparison because of the fact that you don't get the feelings, from these three women. It's not conveyed in on screen the same way. However, the humor, and charm and almost all major plot points are there. However, I did not like the fact that the movie does not show just how evil, and vile Hilly is toward Minny, or any of the maid really. Hilly in the book you see much more of her manipulation and her downfall. She falls much harder and slower in the eyes of the people in Jackson. The whole movies seems really squished together after reading the book. All the major plot points are there but they are rearranged to help the movie along in a fast pace. I really wish they would have just a linger movie and really show more depth that is in the book.

The one thing that I can say that I liked better in the movie than in the book was Skeeter's mom. Particularly her ending. In the movie she tells off Hilly in a glorious fashion. She doesn't do that in the book. 

I have to say if you want a movie and fun read, go and get The Help. You will not regret reading on word on any of it's pages.  

Yeah of Learning: The Big Sleep

The Big Sleep was written by Raymond Chandler in 1939 and the film came out in 1946.

Look I am not gonna lie this is not going to be long. This was the book I was supposed to read in June.... Seeing that it's the end of August you can tell how far behind I am.

This was not helped by the fact that I could not get through the book. Nothing about it really interested me. I am sorry to say that but it didn't. I would have really liked it like the book but I couldn't.

The movie was more interesting but didn't hold my attention like I wanted it. I think that I wasn't expecting as much from the movie cause I didn't like the book. I am hoping that when I get around to watching that movie again then I will be able to enjoy it more.

I have a few other books that are in this genre on my list for this year. It makes me nervous but we are going to see. I will get started, and hopefully start catching up, on Monday.... after my Brad Paisley concert with mom!!!

Alaina's Trial by Movies: The Follow-Up

So, a few months ago I was thinking that I would really like to do something to follow up with Alaina, other then just stopping. So, I came up with 25 questions to see what she thought about these movies. I really wanted to see was she remembered and what her real favorites were!

1. What was your favorite movie? I think that it's a tie between Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Pillow Talk. Mr. Smith because Jimmy Stewart is bae and Pillow Talk because I love the whole shared phoneline scenes.

2. Who ended up being your favorite actor? Bob Hope and Jimmy Stewart. Again I love Jimmy Stewart. Bob Hope is because I really did love his facial expressions.

3. What was your least favorite movie? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It was just a weird movie.

4. Who was your least favorite actor? Well, this might break your heart, Sammy Davis Jr.. He didn't really make a big or memorable impression. (It really didn't break my heart. I get why he didn't I thought she was going to say Mickey Rooney or Frank Sinatra.)

5. Did you have an actor you thought you were not going to like? Not really. There wasn't anyone on the list that I wasn't interested in seeing.

6. Did you have a movie that you thought you were not going to like? I thought I was not going to like Ziegfeld Girl because you said it was sad. Then there was also Mildred Peirce because of the genre.

7. Which movie was the biggest surprise to you? That would be between The Princess and the Pirate and Ziegfeld Girl. The ending of Pirate really got me cause Bing Crosby stole the girl and the other because it was sad but I ended up enjoying it more that I thought.

8. Which Actor was the biggest surprise to you? Bob Hope. I wasn't sure what I was expecting from him. However, I was not expecting him to be that great. Then there was Judy Garland. Before this I have only seen her in was The Wizard of Oz. So, seeing her in another movie being weird and quirky was really fun!

9. Which actor has the most lasting impression on you? Judy Garland and Bob Hope.

10. Which movie had the most lasting impression on you? Princess and the Pirate and Bells are Ringing

11. Who would you like to see more movies of? Bob Hope and Doris Day

12. Where there any genres that you like better than the others? Comedy and Musicals. However, in the right mood I enjoyed the dramas.

13. Which genre did we not get to explore as much that you wish we did? Honestly, I would have liked to see a little more drama.

14. What did you expect to learn from these movies? I wasn't expecting to learn but I was expecting to appreciate films more and being more well rounded.

15. What was the lesson you did learn? Appreciation for classic movies and expanded my views of movies. Some of the drams I would have never had picked because I am normally a funny or die kind of a girl.

16. What was the most memorable moment/scene? The decorating scene in Pillow Talk where she totally changes his apartment. The filibuster scene in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

17. Do you have a most memorable line? Not off the top of my head

18. What was the most irritating scene/ moment? In Bells are Ringing when she changes all of the bets without knowing she screwed up the gambling ring.

19. What did you think of classic movies before you knew me? That they were boring. It's wonderful that my mind changed a little.

20. What do you think of classic movies now? They are fun! A lot of them are cleaner and the people seems to treat each other better. No garbage. I also love the snippet in time with the language and the fashion. There were also a lot of similarities. So, it was foreign and familiar at the same time.

21. How has this challenge change your perspective on movies as a whole? A wider appreciation for different types of movies. It really got me out of my comfort zone.

22. Did the challenge make you anymore interested in movies (new or classic)? As a whole no. I enjoyed that movies that we have scene but I am more interested in classic films.

23. If you could change any aspect of this challenge what would it be? Nothing really except to do this in a more timely manner.

24. Would you do a challenge similar to this again? Yes.

25. Do you have a challenge that you would like me to do? *She laughed evilly at this point* I have two. 1st I want you to watch Chuck. (She has been trying to get me to watch this show forever but she told me how it ends so I haven't wanted to.) The second is I want you watch Secret Garden (This is a funny show that she has told me about before. I am pretty sure she said that it was Korean).


Well, looks like I have more challenges to add to my list...…. I have like 25000 already so hopefully I can get these started soon!

Alaina's Trail by Movies: Myrna Loy

So, this is it... we finally made it. After over a year of watching classic films, Alaina and I have finally finished the last movie. I am not gonna lie, I am a little sad that it's over. I have had a lot of fun nerding out and showing off my favorite movies. However, Alaina and I have lots of other movies to watch in the future. Like we are doing all the Disney Princess movies at one point, everything David Tennant has ever been in, and a lot of move recent movies that we haven't gotten to see yet. 

The last movie that we have is The Thin Man. The reason I had that movie on my list is because I have the really beautiful artwork in my apartment of a girl in a blue dress. I named the girl Myrna after Myrna Loy. Because of the name, and because I knew that The Thin Man was something Alaina had to see I added it to the list. 

So, without further ado, Alaina's thoughts on The Thin Man.

1. What were your thoughts going into this movie? I was excited! It's was the last one on our list and it is a comedy, drama, mystery!

2. What was your favorite part of the movie? Oh, the Christmas party scene. William Powell keeps getting guests that he was to keep separate to talk to about this murder, and has to keep putting them in different rooms.

3. Who was your favorite character? William Powell

4. Why? He was super sassy and smart. I also really loved the relationship between him and Myrna Loy.

5. What did you not like about the movie? I think the fact that there were so many different people to follow in a short amount of time. It was hard to keep some of the people straight. 

6. What did you think of Myrna Loy?  She was fabulous! I really liked the way that Myrna Loy talked and I love the chemistry she had with William Powell.

7. What do you think of  the movie now that you have watched it? I really enjoyed it! I really would like to watch it again or read the book to really appreciate it!

8. Would you watch it again? Yes

9. Would you recommend? Yes

10.  What relevance does it have to today? Well, don't murder people, and marry someone of quality!

Well folks, that's just about it with Alaina's hand pick movies. Well, the movies are done, but I do have questions about the experience as a whole that I will post soon. However, I am really excited because Alaina said that she wanted to watch the sequels to the movie! 

Now, just because we are done with this list does not mean she is done seeing classic movies. Not by a long shot!

Alaina's Trial by Movies: Bob Hope

We are coming into the home stretch. Bob Hope is the second to last person on my list in to have Alaina watch movies for. The last movie that we are going to be watching, on this list at least, is going to be happening this Saturday. Over a year in the making and we are almost done folks!!

To be honest I am not really sure how Bob Hope ended up on my list. This list started because I wanted to make Alaina watch a movie from each star I had a picture of on my wall.... I don't have one of Bob Hope. I think my mom made me add him... Anyways, off we go!

1. What were your thoughts going into the movie? Well, I forgot who we were watching this week, so I was wondering what was on TV. Then when you told me the title I was excited cause it had the word pirate in it.

2. What was your favorite part? I liked the ending pretty good but I really loved when they introduced Bob Hope in the film. I like all of the different faces they showed.

3. Who was your favorite character? Bob Hope for sure!

4. Why? He was silly, funny, charming, and quirky. Luke said that, from what he saw (he was late to the viewing), he had really rapid fire whit that was great to watch!

5. What did you not like about the movie? Luke: That I missed it! Alaina: Nothing that I really didn't like, but If I had to pick something it would be he didn't end up with the girl!

6. What did you think of Bob Hope? He was funny and he has great facial expressions.

7. What do you think of the movie now that we have watched it? I thought it was funny and clever. I really enjoyed it. Luke: I think it worth watching all the way through. I also apricate the accurate title.

8. Would you watch it again? Yes

9. Would you recommend? Yes

10. What relevance does it have to today? The only thing I can think of is Being Crosby can always come and steal your girl....

Alaina's Trail by Movie: Dean Martin

Folks.... This is part of the final three movies. It's has taken us years, and I'm not kidding, YEARS to finish this list. We are not down to our final Rat Pack Member, Dean Martin.

The movie that I chose for her to watch is Bells are Ringing. Now, I know that this might not be Dean Martin's best known movie, but this is the one that introduced me to Dean Martin. It's charming, and Hilarious. I watched this movie with, well Alaina of course, but also her Husband Luke. I love watching movies with him cause his answers are always hilarious.

This movie is about a Telephone Answering service operator who falls in love with on of the subscribers. As all romantic comedies go, things go crazy along the way.

1. What were your thoughts going into the movie? Honestly, it's been so long since I picked this movie out that I forgot which one we were watching until you come here with it.

2. What was your favorite part? Alaina: When she entered into Dean's apartment. He is asking her how she knows him, and about him. He thinks that she is psychic and she agree cause there is no other way to explain herself. Luke: The first time Judy Holliday sings and when she is mastering answering her phone system. It really establishes her character.

3. Who is you favorite charcter? Luke and Alaina both said Judy Holliday

4. Why? Alaina: She is really quirky and funny. She acted with her whole body and sang really well. Luke: You can really feel like she was being herself rather than playing a charcter.

5. What did you not like about the movie? Alaina: The detectives, because they are not really in the story much. They make this whole big deal about them in the beginning and then they are not in it much through the movie. Luke: That other delivery guy who shows up randomly for no real reason.

6. What did you think of Dean Martin? I really liked him but she was overshadowed by Judy Holliday

7. What did you think of the movie now that we have seen it? Alaina: I thought it was excellent. I really like it. Luke: 0 out of 10 no Pillows talked. Really 1 out of 10 because there were not enough ringing bells. (Sidebar: this is every day conversation with Luke it like....)

8. Would you watch it again? Yes

9. Would you recommend? Yes

10. What relevance does it have to today? Alaina: I hate to sound cliche but be true to yourself.

Year of Learning: Water for Elephants

The month of May brought Water for Elephants. 

This is one of the books I was not sure about, because I wasn't sure about the movie. I saw the movie the first week it came out in theaters and never saw it again. The only thing that I really remember was this was the best performance that I have seen by Robert Pattinson, and that the movie was better that I thought. Other than that I remembered nothing. 

So, when it came to reading that book I thought it was going to be very boring. I thought that it was going to be long and miserable. However, I was wrong. It's has to be one of the most enjoyable books I have read. 

Now, because I am somewhat of a prude the only thing that I didn't not like about the book was the sex. Now, It's not a porno by any means, and other who have read might have just thought normal. However, I didn't need to know some of the fact that was said. However, that is my own personal preference. However, a thrilling tale about a circus is hared to beat. Throw in a good heated man, a love story, and and elephant and you have yourself a great book.

The movie did a really good job with following the book, however, there are some grievances. In the book there are two people that Jacob has to look out for, August and Uncle Al. August is the man married to Marlena, and he is in charge of the animals in the circus. Uncle Al is in charge of the whole circus. In the movie they make August in charge of the whole circus and Al is not even in the movie at all. I didn't like that because it made everything they did in the movie a little less threatening. This would have been noticed by someone who has never read the book before the movie. Without that being a factor some other stuff was changed. Like in the book you could feel the tension from the whole circus where when Uncle Al is not in the movie all of the tension comes from Jacob's story. You also loose out on how incredibly screwed up August is. Just how jealous, how vile, how evil that man gets is really lost in the film. The stories of the side characters, like Camel and Walter, don't seem as important in the movie. They are there and they happened but the development of that family isn't there. The grieve of the end of their stories is not as significant.

 Even though you miss out on all the great stories between Jacob and the other characters, I have to say the movie does follow along really well. I know they had to change it for it to read better of them film, they followed how the book makes you feel rather well. 

I will say that I would watch and read both again. 

Year of Learning: The Devil Wears Prada

So.... As per usual I am behind.

I always seem to get behind not matter what challenge that I am doing but I always seem to catch up. I have.

The Month of April I read The Devil Wears Prada. Now, In reality I borrowed the book from the from the library in April and finally read it in May. I am sorry to say that this book did not capture me like the rest of them have.

We all know that movie rather well I think. We all really remember it because Meryl Streep did such a fantastic job as Miranda Priestly that we loved to hate her in this film. She did such awful things to Andrea in the film that we all kinda wished we had her power but we never really wanted to be that big of a which.

However, this movie does not do justice just how horrid of a women Miranda was.

Miranda has some truly insane demands in the book. They weren't just to make them miserable and "keep them in their place" but she really wanted everything to be utterly pristine. Like the fact she wanted to have breakfast served to her when she walked through the door. If it was not piping hot she would be angry. The kicker is she came into work a different time every morning and never said when. So, they would have to order the same meal every 15 minutes and throw our the old one until she got there.

The movie does not go into that amount of detail. They don't show what it was really like to work for a horrid person. They tried to show it by making Andrea find the unpublished copy of the newest Harry Potter book and giving it to her daughters. Events like this did not happen in the book. Another thing that did not appear in the book was how Miranda liked clothing. Like if she smiled she really loved it, if she liked it she nodded. That didn't happen in the book either.

Now, I watched the movie before I read the book. Even though this is my least favorite book so far this year I have to say that the book is so much better.

When I look back on the movie, I remember the key parts that I mentioned in the book. I really don't remember seeing the movie from the very beginning to the very end before doing this challenge. However, watching the movie I realize that I have seen it all. I thought there was more to it. It feel really rushed, and don't hit the points that it was trying too. They changed so much from the book to the movie that it feels really lack luster. I mean the book had real character development from everyone, except Miranda, and the ending of the book, how Andrea quits her job, is by far more epic than the movie will be.

I know that she hasn't been my favorite book I might read it again one day. I would recommend both the movie and book but I would say you should really read the book first on this one. 

Alaina's Trial by Movies: Bette Davis

Better Davis.

One of the all time best Actresses to grace the screen. She has done many different genres over the years but it mainly known for drama. The movie I chose for Alaina is Dark Victory because it was the first Bette Davie movie I watched.

This film is interesting because of the fact that it's a Drama that Bette Davis doesn't seem like a total witch through. 

1. What were your thoughts going into this movie? I was looking forward to it because it wasn't a musical or comedy. We haven't seen many dramas. 

2. What was your favorite part of the movie? I guess it was near the end after the main couple gets married. She seemed like she was really happy even though she knew she was going to die She filled the first few months of what was left of her life with junk and then she realized she really wanted.

3. Who was your favorite character? Bette Davis

4. Why? The character growth. It was realistic representation of what someone who knew they were going to die would react. 

5. What did you not like about the movie? That it was sad.

6. What did you this of Bette Davis? I like her.

7. What do you think of the movie after we have watched it? From the very beginning it was interesting. It also kept my attention the entire time. 

8. Would you watch it again? Yes, but not right away.

9. Would you recommend? To someone who liked sad movies.

10. What relevance does it have to today? Live life to the fullest. We many not know when we die but we need to live life with meaning. Also to enjoy it not waste it!

Alaina's Trial by Movies: Tony Curtis

So, last time we watched a movie that did have both Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in it. However, the last movie was for Jack Lemmon. This time we are watching a Tony Curtis Jack Lemmon movie but this time we are going to focus on Mr. Curtis.

There is a special place in my hear for this movie. It's funny and fun! It's crazy and lighthearted! There is so much happening through this whole movie it's just.... The Great Race

1 What were your thoughts going into this movie? I was excited about it because it was another Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon movie. 

2. What was your favorite part of the movie? The blizzard scene. The whole thing where the iceberg broke off and there was a polar bear. It's was fun to watch!

3. Who is your favorite character? Jack Lemmon

4. Why? Because how classic villain he was. He was so ridiculous it was hilarious!

5. What did you not like about the movie? I would recommend not watching it was a screaming baby (poor Clark was not feeling well the day we watched the movie). I don't think they were trying to crown someone else to be king.

6. What did you think of Tony Curtis? I like that in this film he was good and honest. However, I think Jack stood out more.

7. What do you think of the movie now that we have watched it? I enjoyed it. It was a good classic and cheesy movie.

8. Would you watch it again? Yes!

9. Would you recommend? Yes, but again not with a screaming baby.

10. What relevance does it have to today? That persistence is key. 

 

Year of Learning: The Princess Bride

I know that I have mentioned some of my all time favorite movies on here. I am not sure I have listed my top ten. I am not going to because that is not what this is about. However, The Princess Bride is my 5th favorite of all time. This is one of those movies that I don't remember the first time I ever saw it. I feel like it's a movie that has always been in my life. I do remember buying the DVD. I still have the DVD that I bought. I remember how excited I was to watch this film again because it had been so long.

It wasn't until about 5 or 6 years ago that I found out that The Princess Bride was also a book. I have been terrified to read this book because I don't want the book to be totally ruined or the movie. I tried my best to avoid it at all costs. A friend of mine read the book and said how good the book really was and that I should give it a try. When I did I didn't get very far. Mainly because I wasn't in a reading mood, and about a million other excuses. This year when I decided to do this books into movie thing this was the first book that I put on the list.

I have to say that The Princess Bride has taken over the number one spot for my favorite book of all time. This book was so much fun to read! In some way I might say I enjoyed it better than the movie! It's great film adaptation. After finding out that the author of the book, William Goldman,  is also the screenplay writer it wasn't that much of a shock anymore. There very few things that are different from the book to the screen. Like in the movie Buttercup is almost attacked by shrieking eels, but in the book she is almost attacked by sharks. The White horses that Fezzik finds at the end of movie were in the book but they had a slightly more dominated appearance and mean. The one thing that I was worried about was the narration of the story.

In the movie the fantasy part of the movie is in a book too, which is read by the grandpa to his grandson while he is sick. That is such a memorable part of the movie I was wondering in that is what was happening in the book. I was worried that the whole book would have been the fantasy, and that it would leave me to wonder why that was changed from the book to the movie. Well, the narration in the book is simply pure genius and it's unlike any other book I have read or while read in the future.

No, there is no grandpa reading the book The Princess Bride in the book. However, there are cutaways from fantasy to reality through the whole book. What is officially on the front cover of the book is The Princess Bride followed just underneath by "S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love & High Adventure". Now, for those of you paying any attention, I had mentioned that the author of the book is named William Goldman. So, who in the world is S. Morgenstern? That is the brilliance of this book.

You see, William Goldman is the author of the book, but he is claiming not to be. In the first few pages of the book is a "forward" that is written by William Goldman saying that the book you are about to read is an abridged version of S. Morgenstern's book The Princess Bride. Through the whole book William Goldman writes these asides explaining what he "took out" of the original book. The chapters and pages that weren't as excited, or the parts that his dad skipped when he was a boy, and then continues on with the story. In reality, S. Morgenstern does not, and has never, exists! Goldman made up a fake author, and said that he made an abridged version of his story so that it would be more enjoyable to read.... However, none of that is true.

Goldman wrote the whole book and then interrupted his own work so bring everyone back to reality to "explain" stuff and then went back to his own story. Knowing that makes the book so much funnier! So, also to be clear there is not unabridged version of The Princess Bride it's all a ruse! It's fantastic every single step of the way!

All of the character stay true in the book and in the movie, it's really almost like watching the actual movie in your head while you are reading. The more I read that more I feel in love with the book and the movie! There is so many little parts that could not make it into the movie for time. Like we get background information of Inigo, Fezzik, and Vizzini. There is also small details, like the sword fighting scene in the book is done all at night while it was in the morning in the movie. The Machine in the book only went up to 20 in the book and 50 in the film. These little things were enough to take out of the film to still leave something special but knowing them from the book makes you love the characters on screen even more.

I will say that I would recommend both the book and the movie to anyone who loves "Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles..." or anything of that nature.

Alaina's Trial by Movies: Jack Lemmon

This challenge was originally set for just Alaina to do. However, over the last year of doing this Luke, Alaina's husband, has been joining us for some of the movies. The last movie that he watched with us was Pillow Talk. With the success of that movie I knew that he would have to watch the Jack Lemmon movie with us, Some Like It Hot.

This movie is a hilarious story about two guys on the run from the mob. They decide the are going to hide from them by dressing up like women and joining and all women's band and go to Florida. This movie has an all star cast of Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe.

So, the added bonus that Luke also answered the questions as well!

1. What were your thoughts going into this movie? Alaina:" I was looking forward to the title did not help describe the movie". Luke: "Never thought what the movie would be by what the title is".

2. What was your favorite part of the movie? Luke: "Stalling the owner of the yacht owner with the dancing." Alaina: "Where they are on the train and all the girls piling into the bed on the train and they were trying to take Jack Lemmon's bra off".

3. Who was your favorite character? Alaina: "Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon equally". Luke: "I agree they were and equally good paring".

4. Why? Alaina: "They bounced off each other really well. They had good screen compatibility and good facial expressions.

5. What did you not like about the movie? Luke: "The conductor and manager were on the train and never seen again during the movie. They basically told the 'new girls' what they could and could not do. I thought they were going to catch them doing something but they never did and they never really came back into play.

6. What did you think of Jack Lemmon? Alaina "He was funny and had good facial expressions". Luke: "they made him a comical voice of reason, he was good".

7. What do you think of the movie now that you have seen it? Luke: "0 out of 10 because some of those people didn't like it hot". Alaina: "Luke the movie is called Some Like It Hot so it should get a 10 out of 10 because only some of them liked it hot. I liked it I thought it was entertaining.

8. Would you watch it again? Both said yes.

9. Would you recommend? Yes

10. What relevance does it have to today? Luke made some sort of pointless joke here that was not really worth trying to put in here. Alaina: "I don't know really? Don't get involved with the mob? Oh, you should always stick with your friend".

Alaina's Trial by Movies: Elizabeth Taylor

Known for being one of the most beautiful women on the planet, Elizabeth Taylor is the next star that Alaina got to watch. She has a lot of different types of roles but Cat on a Hot Tin Roof has to be one of her most memorable.

This movie is a very dramatic movie. It's based off of the Tennessee Williams' play by the same name. It's very different from the other movies that I have made her watch. 

1.What were your thoughts going into this movie? Well, I actually got this movie title confused with Fiddler on the Roof, which I have also never seen. So, for half the movie trying to remember the name of the movie that I thought I was watching. 2. What was your favorite part of the movie? The very end when Paul Newman stuck up for his wife. 3. Favorite character? Paul Newman 4. Why? His eyes. He did a good job playing a realistic alcoholic and someone who's has given up. He did a good job with the comeback of his character as well. 5. What did you not like about the movie? It's was weird. I kept expecting more to happen. The events of the movie and the argument were all in a span of a day. Most movies there is more movement. It's was just different. 6. What did you think of the actor we watched this time? I thought Elizabeth Taylor was good and very pretty. 7. What do you think of the movie after we have watched it? It was weird. It wasn't bad, it was just interesting..... 8. Would you watch it again? Probably not, unless I was with someone who wanted to watch it. I would not seek it out. 9. Would recommend? To someone who likes old movies yes. For cultural significance, sure. 10. What relevance does it have to today? I'm gonna say the importance of good communication. The whole movie would have been avoided if the husband and wife just talked.