Shawn Levy Shuffle: Cheaper By The Dozen

 No we are at another movie that was one I remember fondly from childhood. This is right when I was in that age were seeing people I knew from Disney shows and seeing them in movies was really cool. 

Cheaper By The Dozen is from 2003 and I loved it!

Tom and Kate Baker move themselves, and the 11 out of 12 kids, to a new city when Tom get's an offer for his dream job. When Kate finds out that her book is being published at about this same time, the family dynamic drastically changes and become more stressful for everyone. 

Now, I am not going to name every person I recognize from this movie but I know Allison Stoner, Hilary Duff, Ashton Kutcher and several others. I honestly forgot that this movie had so many stars! I LOVE this movie. It was always one of my favorites to watch when it came on TV and I slowly remembered what was coming next as the movie went on. 

What I love about this movie is that at the end there are a few blooper reels that really show how well Shawn Levy worked with some of the younger kids. Like he was so sweet and patient an it made me love the movie more. This I also think is were he was starting to be trusted with a lot more budget and bigger names. I mean Big Fat Liar has some big names now, but Frankie Munoz and Amanda Bynes were well established TV actors that were also starting to break out in movies. Here you have a lot of TV actors in a kids movie with the huge start power Steve Martin. I loved how this movie keeps you entertained while pushing forward without being rushed. I got how all the kids were feeling while they were dealing with the move and trying to figure out their new life. With that big of an ensemble, it's hard to connect with all of the characters on some level, but they all got their moment to shine, and show off their personalities. 

Also, the move is over 20 years old (holy cow) and I don't think I had one real moment of this movie feeling "dated" or really stuck in one time period. Like Yet, some of the style has changed, but like I feel like this movie could be made today and have the same wonderful feeling of what I saw here. 

Shawn Levy Shuffle: Just Married

 We are back at another round of the shuffle this month with two fairly well well liked, and well reviewed movies. The first one being from 2003 Just Married

After a relatively short romance, Tom and Sarah get married and are excited to start their lives together with a great European honeymoon. Problems arise when they realize that being married can not longer be about them individually and has to be about them together. 

This movie is yet another one that I have seen some of until I started doing this project. It's also one that I had no clue that Shawn Levy directed. I loved seeing Brittany Murphy and Ashton Kutcher together. It's also another movie where there is something very light and loving about the film. Like you truly feel good watching this movie. 

Since I know what some of the movies that are coming up by him I am wondering if this alone his touch as a director. Like I am not use how you can bring the same kind of special happy feeling you get watching his movie as I have had so far. We shall see as we go on.    

There They Are And There They'll Stay: The Count of Monte Cristo

 This is one of those titles that I have heard a million times in my life, but I have never read the book or watched the film before today. 

Edmond Dantes' life is about to take off. After he did what was right is in trying to save a man's life abord a ship, he gets a promotion and that means that he can marry the love of his life, Mercedes. His so called best friend, Fernand Mondago, has other plans. Fernand has been jealous of Edmond his whole life. He is in love with Mercedes, he wants the joy that Edmond feels, and he wants to be him. He things that if Edmond was gone, then his feelings would also vanish. When it's discovered that Edmond carried a letter from the banned Napoleon, Fernand uses this information to get Edmond arrest and thrown into a horrible prison in 13 years. 

During that time, Edmond befriends a imprisoned Priest Abbe Faria. Over the years they are working on a way to escape the prison. However, Abbe dies in a tunnel collapse before he get the chance. With his last breath, Abbe tells Edmond that he knows where a treasure is buried and revenge belongs to God and that he need to forgive and move forward with his life. Edmond does not heed these words.

Abbe's death provide enough of a distraction for Edmond to escape the prison and start a new life. However, his fresh start leads him to smugglers, and a duel for his own life against a man who is sentenced to die. Jacopo is so thankful that Edmon spares his life, he tells him that her will be his man for the rest of his life. He proves right and becomes a real friend to Edmond over the next few years as they use the treasure to build a new life for Edmond to get revenge. 

He takes down everyone that through him into prison and trades lies for his life. He makes it all the way back to his former friend Fernand. Fernand married Mercedes, and due to the death of some family members, and now a Count. Disguised as as Count himself, Edmond comes into their lives starts to take everything apart. Until. Mercedes realizes who he is and tells him that the son she has is his and that she has always loved him. 

Edmond still tries to take his revenge on Fernand. He is consumed by anger and thinks that the only way for the pain to stop is when he revenge is satisfied. 

I loved this movie!

I am still shocked that I have not seen this movie before and I really want to watch it again. I think thought that is was going to long an boring but I didn't know that it was going to be such a beautiful story.

The picture of God I got from this film was obvious, Revenge belongs to God. Which is so hard because we as humans want to wrong the person that has wronged us so much! The author of Jesus Loves Movies also agrees with this picture. The verse he chose was:

"Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is min to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." Romans 12:19

My favorite part about this movie is at the end when Edmond says to God, after telling Him that he doesn't believe in Him anymore for most of the movie, that he will use everything that he got from to take revenge and start using it for good. 

I hope that we learn that God will uphold all justice to those who were wronged. That we learn to walk in forgiveness. 

There They Are And there They'll Stay: A Place Beyond The Pines

We have hit the first movie of these that is was not looking forward to at all! Not because I have seen it before or anything, I haven't, but because of the title. Let's be honest, it sounds like it was going to be a scary movie title. 

I am very happy to report that I was wrong about that, it ended up being a way more dramatic of a film that I would have thought. A Place Beyond The Pines is a movie that I have some thoughts on for sure. 

A Place Beyond The Pines is really a paralleled generation story. Luke and Avery are two very different people. Luke is a man who just found out he is a father, and is trying to support his ex by robbing banks and their son. Avery is a rookie police officer who is trying to do good in the world. They only ever meet one time, when Avery kills Luke during a manhunt. This incident changes Avery's life in ways he would never expect. Avery is injured in the manhunt as well and when he wakes from surgery, his eyes are opened to what the police force he works for s really like. Avery finds out that they are corrupt. He stands by his morals (mostly) and repots the whole department for corruption. Setting him on a political career. 

Luke's son, Jason, and Avery's son, A.J. end up going to the same high school. Jason is a lost kid who has a step father who loves him, and a mother who did everything she could to keep help happy. A.J. grew up with a distant father, divorced parents, and a wealthier background. When the two meet things start to go sideways. Neither one knows about their father's past. However, when Jason does some research into his biological father, things change for him. 

He ends up fighting with A.J. and that leads to him kidnapping Avery and taking him to the woods. That is where is confronts his father's past, and the man who took him out of this world.

When first watching the movie, it was ok. However, sitting with it the last few days, it has left a lasting impression. I think, for me, it's because I think most people don't show how much hurt this world has caused them on the outside, like the characters do here. However, we have all been on that level of hurt one way or another. I think seeing it be played out is hard to watch. 

My God moment for this movie is the end when Jason and Avery are in the woods. Jason has him a gunpoint and is asking for what happened. What the audience knows, that none of the other main characters do, is that Avery did not shoot Luke in self defense, he shot first. Avery murdered Luke. Since it happened, Avery has been rattle with the guilty secret ever since. He has always felt guilty for taking Jason's father away from him. This is the first time he has been face to face with Jason since he was a baby. While Avery doesn't want to die, he know that ultimately it would "serve him right" because of the truth he knows. Yet, Jason, in all of his anger, walks away. He leaves him in the woods unharmed. 

I don't think that Jason showed forgiveness in the moment. However, God did. We are all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all deserved to die, yet we where spared. 

My God moment and the Author God moment weren't the same but follow the same line. Mr. Stranogolagalli's used John 17:1 

    After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify you Son, that you Son may glorify you..."

He talks about how earlier in the movie Avery is follow a police officer into the woods to have a "talk". When he realizes that something is up, he turns around and speeds to his father's house for help.

We can do the same thing. We can turn and run to the Father whenever we are in need or any help at any time.  

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!