There They Are And There They'll Stay: Guardian of the Galaxy

I love the the Marvel movies... well... at least through the first four phases. There are parts of the MCU that I do like right now, but over all I think it's lost the plot a little bit. We are not here to discuss those feelings, we are here to talk about one specific Marvel film today The Guardians of the Galaxy!

Peter Quill, also know mainly to himself as Star-Lord, is an outlaw on the hunt to treasures that those in higher social circles are looking for. When he take the job to look for an Orb, he finds that this adventure is a life changing one. 

It's discovered that Ronan the Accuser is looking for the Orb, a power hunger villain, to seek revenge. In an attempt to cash in the Orb he runs into Gamora, Rocket, Drax and Groot on the way. The unlikely team finds out the Orb can destroy the whole planets, and try to hide the Orb so that no one can find it. On the way they learn that they work well as a team, and end up saving their planet with laughter, action, some Earthy 80's references, and.... dancing. 

It has been a long time since I watched this movie. I always love watching when I do finally sit down and get the chance to. I love the comedy and actions and everything on the screen is just fun to watch, and be entertained by. 

However, since this year is about faith, I watched this movie thinking about how this could related to God and His character since this movie is in my Jesus Loves Movies book. So, my thoughts on this movie where Yondu, the man that was sent to bring Peter to his father, reveals to one of the crew members that he didn't take him because Peter's father is crazy! That Peter was unexpectedly saved by Yondu intervening. Peter, at this point, is unaware of that information, but as an audience member, it nice to see that Yondu really care. 

The author of Jesus Loves Movies had a different take on the film, which I loved! He used Matthew 21:31 for refence: 

 

    Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collector and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom before you...

Phil Strangolagalli, the afore mentioned author, writes beautifully about how the five members of this new team are all people that would not be picked to save the world. The are thieves, killers, vengeance seekers, and all around "bad" guys. There aren't many people that would look past what they have been to be redeemable. Yet, they are. Yet, they did. Yet, they saved everyone when they didn't have to! 

The first followers of Christ were not the people the "should" have been picked to follow up. They were also liars, thieves, and killers. Yet, Jesus chose them to follow Him. Yet, Jesus first spoke with them and had them go out and save the world by telling others how Jesus really Saved The World! 

 

The List: 150

  It's not been that long since the last time I got to write one of these! I didn't think I would be writing one this soon!

So, what is number 150? It's one that got a slight change during the last few months, I'm not going to lie. Like I have said in the past, I started writing this list when I was 18. I am now 33 and things change! This one was original "Go to and episode of The Voice" however, I am not a huge fan of that show nowadays. So, when I found out that WWE was coming to Nashville for a like recording of Monday Night RAW I had to change it! 

I know I mentioned it some point last yet, but I have started watched WWE again about a year ago. I have been to WWE events when I was way younger, which is why I couldn't just change it from The Voice to WWE, but I have never gotten a chance to see it when they were doing a live recording. 

Nikki went with me, because she is so awesome! 

The seats we got were amazing, we got to see everything! I got to see Rhea Ripley, only on video not in person which was the only sad part, and Rey Mysterio. I have seen him before and he was just as great this time as he was the last time I saw him.

As entertaining as the show was, some of the more entertaining parts came from the drunk guy who sat next to me. We talked and got along fine, until about near the end of the show he asked me if I smoked wee (I don't) and then he played it off like he would never touch the stuff either. Then telling me that I look like Rhea Ripley (I don't) and asking me if I wanted a Dominic Mysertio (if you get the reference you will know why that was gross. Also to answer the question: I don't).

It seems to me that Nikki has been my bucket list granter for the last few of these, and I know she is going to be granting a few more this coming yet, so I know that I will have more to update on!

No Place Like Movies At Home: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

 Wow....what a title! 

We are continuing our little mini series of MGM Musical with A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum! For the sake of my poor fingers, it's going to be shortened from here on out to A Funny Thing. 

This multi plot story focuses on three house on the street, all narrated by the house slave. One man is looking for his missing children, the house slave will do anything he can to gain his freedom, and one is a house of ill repute that is trying to stay afloat. 

Look I now that wasn't much but you really just have to watch this movie to get the insanity of it all! 

When I first bought this DVD set I had never heard of A Funny Thing, I was so young that I really didn't get/like this movie very much. I had that mindset going into the film. Seeing it again, half my lifetime later, it's really a special movie. It's crazy, entertaining, cookie, and has some really great music!

I would recommend watching this movie for sure!

Shawn Levy Shuffle: Big Fat Liar

I am shocked! 

I am shocked for two reasons. The first being that I had no clue that Shawn Levy directed one of my favorite childhood movies. The second being that this is his third time directing a motion picture? 

I mean holy cow!

Jason is a young mad who is constant liar. He lies about everything in his life. He has gotten so good at it that he seems to have gotten away with it for very long time. 

Until he got too comfortable. 

He made a lie too big about why he didn't get he school paper done, and he got busted. He has to either make up the 1000 word, hand written, paper by the end of the day, or face summer school. He finishes the paper and one the way runs into a major movie producer, Marty Wolf, and gets a ride from him. Though Jason makes it to the school on time, the paper was missing. When he does tell the truth as to what happened no one believes him. Summer starts, and after school, him and his best friend, Kaylee, go see a movie. The preview for an upcoming movie is the same plot of Jason's paper, with Marty Wolf claiming that he wrote the whole thing. 

Jason and Kaylee sneak off to Hollywood to prove Jason's innocents to his family, and to hold Marty Wolf accountable for all of the lies he has made up in his line of work as well.

This movie was such a flashback moment for me! I used to watch it whenever it was on TV. It was my first introduction to Paul Giamatti, and continued my love to Amanda Bynes and Frankie Muinez! I loved all of the comedy and the little bit of action that we got to see. I love how they utilized that sound stages and the lots on the studio lots. I love just how fun and heartwarming all of the movies have been so far. 

This one I am impressed by the fact that this idea of this happening sounds nuts but felt like it was somehow plausible. That it goes from "no way this could be real" to "you know it could happen" effortlessly! 

I love the heart of Shawn Levy's so far and I hope that them continues as we go long on this jounry.  

Shawn Levy Shuffle: Just In Time

 We are onto movie number two of movies directed by Shawn Levy. It wasn't very long after his first movie that he got to make his second film. Just In Time is a movie that I never even heard of before looking into Mr. Levy's career. However, it's a movie that I was surprised to like as well as I did.

Lilly is struggling in her day to day life after her mother died from an accident a year and a half ago. Her dad is always struggling, but it trying to hide it more than anything. Lilly keeps getting into fights at school, and at home with a revolving door of nannies that her dad keeps trying to higher. One day, on the way home from school, Lilly is getting bullies, and Faith intervenes. The two becoming unlikely friends. They only  grow closer when, in an usual set of circumstances, lead Faith to coming Lilly's nanny. 

Like I said before, I was surprised by this film. I really thought that this movie was going to be so insanely cheesy that I would not be able to handle it. It was cheesy (it's still a family centers 90's film after all) but it was sweet, and lighthearted in the best of ways. I didn't cringe at any of the acting, and I really loved the message to the film. 

Is it a film that I would tell someone to watch right away? No, but if someone brought it up I would give it a good review. 

There's No Place Like Movies At Home: Fiddler On The Roof

 We are back! 

No only are we back to talking about movies that I own, but we are back for another bought of classic musicals. This one comes from 1971, and it's one of MGM's most beloved classics, Fiddler On The Roof. 

A Jewish family living in Russia, is trying to make ends meet day to day. Trying to find how they will marry off their five daughters, with no way to be able to pay a dowery for each of them. They are trying to keep up with their traditions of their faith, while the a looming war and more modern ideals are introduced to them along the way. 

Now, this is why I love watching movies, cause sometimes, somehow, you just miss things. I have always wondered why in the world this movie has the title that it does.... only to find this time around, it's said in the opening monologue of the movie. Trying to keep tradition and face a new world is like being a fiddler on the roof. Beautiful things can come out of the most strange places, life is always a balancing act. 

This is one of those movies that I didn't fall in love with right away growing up. It's a meatier story than most musicals. The more I watch it the most I fall in love with it. I feel like the most I learn about history, art, or even just the technical aspects of music/musicals the more I love musicals like this. The has wonderful songs, and is so much fun to watch, however it's not always the fun, vibrant, and sunshiny musical that most people watch and remember. 

I think that only thing I would change for my next watch is do do a small amount of research of the original play in general. I think it's based of a real like journal, or notes, from a Jewish man who lived in Russia during this time. I do know that the town in Fiddler is not a real town, so there are some aspects that re not 100% the same. I think if I find out more on how this musical came to life in the first place, that I will love the musical more than I already do 

There They Are And There They'll Stay: Shawshank Redemption

Today is a noteworthy day when it comes to watching movies. I finally sat down and watched The Shawshank Redemption.

This is a very long movie, so I'm going to do my best is summarizing. 

Andy is serving two live sentences for the murder of his wife, and the man she was having an affair with. However, Andy has been wrongfully convicted of the crimes. With no real evidence is prove his innocents, he is sentenced, and sent to Shawshank. It's there that Andy fine a new purpose for his life, while also finding out how hard the life of an inmate can be. He does everything he can to improve his new living situation (sometimes in illegal ways), but also planning an escape that no one ever saw coming. 

I think I saw this movie once years ago with my dad. However, I didn't see right from the beginning. While most of what I did see made sense at the time, there were a few things that I felt like I was missing. Now seeing it in all of it glory, I understand why this movie is going to be labeled a classic forever! 

This movie is think is remember most because of the daring escape at the end of the movie, however, I think really that reason that escape is so wonderful is because of all of the things that Andy had to go through before his escape. 

The most was not only innocent of the crime he is there for but, during his time in prison, he suffered abuse, sexual assaulted, and blackmail. He didn't always make the right choices during his time in prison, but he tried to do what he could to improve the lives of those people around him. he got a new library for the inmates, helped several of them get an education while they were serving there time, and had a hand in getting some pretty nefarious people out of the prison. 

Then he learns from a new inmate who the real killer of his wife and her lover is, he tries to go and get help from the warden for help. However, over the years that Andy has been there, there has ben some fraudulent taxes on the books (manly due to Andy's expertise) and because the Warden doesn't want to stop lining his pockets, he refuses to help Andy. Then, just for good measure, has the new inmate murdered claiming that he had been trying to escape. 

This is when we finally see Andy escape, but also finally see how long he has been planning for it. 

This escape is memorable because we have lived so much life with Andy in just a few short hours. I don't really think movies today would have spent so much time focusing on the daily life of Andy in prison as they did in this film. That is what makes the payoff for the movie so sweet! We have been there through the suffering, pain, and ruthlessness of it all. 

"Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord."

                                                                                          Romans 12:19

Jesus Loves Movies uses this verse, and talks about how Jesus was an innocent man, brutally punished, and sentenced to death. The only thing is that it doesn't talk much about God's revenge on that situation. 

See, Jesus did get revenge on all of those people who not only killed in, but those who supported the he be sentenced to death. 

His revenge was not death or torture to those who were against him. It was freedom. 

Jesus's death gave a path for Him to be risen from the dead so that we may be given the chance to be free under His convent. Under His Blood. Under His law. 

Andy's escape, his freedom rather, lead so an investigation of Shawshank, or the guards, or the warden, of all of the people who should have given him freedom when they had the chance to help an innocent man. However, Andy's freedom lead to the uncovering of sins the men in charge tried to hide. 

Jesus's escape from death gives us freedom to choose Him. To seek Him. To love Him. To be free from the craziness of this world, and to show His love and mercy.