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Lovin' all my faves~
<<<---Photo: from A FINE ROMANCE (1981 -1984). Classic Britcom 
PERSONAL ENTERTAINMENT PREFERENCES (all top faves in bold):
Type of television = I love TV of all eras. Types of programs I like are: serialized programs (usually dramas or dark thrillers like "Bates Motel" or the original "Dallas"), cozy and classic mystery and crime shows (like "Columbo" "Murder, She Wrote", and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour"), mini-series, made-for-TV-movies, and televised plays (especially when they are big-time television events, like "Peter Pan Live"!), classic variety shows (like "Carol Burnett"), vintage talk-shows (like Dinah Shore, Carson, Donahue, Joan Rivers, etc---the fun showbiz-themed ones), vintage game-shows (like the 1980s-1990s "Love Connection"), heartwarming family shows (like "Punky Brewster"), some children's shows and cartoons I grew up with, and occasional cooking shows and home and garden programs. But, as much as I love all these different types of TV from all the different eras, it is sitcoms and comedic shows (especially favorite Britcoms and cozy British comedy) which I tend to love the most.
Type of film = Romantic, sexy, understated, erotic, happy, sweet, uplifting, poetic, mysterious, thrilling, dark, suspenseful, fantastical, warm, fun---Chic[k]-flicks... Lover of all cinema, i.e. "World cinema"---especially European, Australian, and North American cinema---but enjoy films from elsewhere occasionally too. As long as films are romances (especially lesbian romances), musicals, comedies, fantasies, family films, teen films, dramas, FILMS ABOUT TEACHERS AND FILMS ABOUT NUNS (they often inspire and invigorate me), art films, animation (especially the really artsy ones), suspense/thrillers, mysteries, epics, or horror--or a combination thereof--and as long as I like the style, story, and cast---I'll most likely like the film. I am also a fan of some documentary films and shorts. But, the look and musical score/soundtrack is essential to my enjoyment of anything I watch, no matter what the genre. The more visually stunning the film, the better---and the more likable the soundtrack/score, the more I'll adore it. Love films showing lifestyles of the rich and glamorous, lush suburbs, scenery, homes, affluence, domestic settings... I like films that excite me, arouse me, seduce me, fill my mind with wonder, warm my heart, play into my fantasies of a comfortable existence, and/or otherwise make me feel good---about something---even if it's just the clothes the characters are wearing or the places they go!
A look at 1 of my favorite movies =
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHlLXejIh78
Authors/book-to-screen adaptations = George Bernard Shaw, Roald Dahl, the Grimm brothers, Hans Christian Andersen, Ayn Rand, Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, Françoise Sagan, Shakespeare, films based on religious texts, biographies, exposés, classic children's stories, fairy-tales, and fantasies
Directors/Producers = Olivier Assayas, Otto Preminger, Frank Borzage, Judy Craymer, Ryan Murphy, Blake Edwards, Billy Wilder, Frank Capra, Juacqes Demy, Tim Burton, Douglas Sirk, Ross Hunter, Michael Powell & Emeric Pressbuerger a.k.a. The Archers, Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, Preston Sturgess, Alfred Hitchcock, Nora Ephron, Nancy Meyers, Garry Marshall, Penny Marshall, John Hughs, Harold Ramis, Woody Allen, Robert Altman
Actresses = From film: Jean Arthur, Maggie Smith (because her films are like the movie-equivalents to Classical and "easy listening" radio stations), Judi Dench, Jean Seberg, Julie Walters, Juliette Binoche, Kristen Scott Thomas, Kristen Stewart, Isabella Rossellini, Amy Schumer, Glenn Close, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Andie MacDowell, Carrie Fisher, Natasha Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave, Emma Thompson, Julianne Moore, Mia Farrow, Mia Wasikowska, Jennifer Lawrence, Brittany Murphy Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Faye Dunaway, Jessica Lange, Diane Keaton, Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Lee Curtis, Annette Bening, Dakota Johnson, Renee Zellweger, Kirsten Dunst, Lindsay Lohan, Penelope Cruz, Helena Bonham-Carter, Imelda Staunton, Celia Imrie, Christne Baranski, Tilda Swinton, Meg Ryan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Drew Barrymore, Lily Tomlin Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews, Charlotte Rampling, Elena Anaya, Gwen Verdon, Rosemary Clooney, Mary Martin, Doris Day, Deanna Durbin, Deborah Kerr, Ingrid Bergman, Greer Garson, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood, Catherine Deneuve, Grace Kelly, Lauren Bacall, Gloria Grahame, Shelley Winters, Anne Bancroft, Eva Green, Jane Fonda, Ruth Gordon, Carol Channing, Cloris Leachman, Cybil Shepherd, Judith Light, Whoopie Goldberg, Whitney Houston, Cher, Lana Turner, Sandra Dee, , Shirley Temple, Hayley Mills, Debbie Reynolds, Goldie Hawn, Kyra Sedgwick, Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, and Rosalind Russell , cause their films mostly exemplify what I tend to like in genres, cast, etc. From TV--NOTE an asterisk designates a TV actress I also love in movies: *Vera Farmiga (maybe the best actress working in TV today), *Judi Dench, *Ellen Degeneres, Betty White, Bea Arthur, *Angela Lansbury, *Lucille Ball (my first ever favorite who will always have a place in my heart), Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, *Jane Horrocks, *Julia Sawalha, *Joannna Lumley, *Catherine Tate, Tracey Ullman, Victoria Wood, *Juliet Mills, Melissa Joan Hart, and *Vivian Vance (the best TV co-star EVER!)
Actors = From film: (in no particular order) Fred Astaire (cause he's ultra-likable and starred in some of the most upbeat, memorable films), Dudley Moore, Cary Grant, Herbert Marshall, David Niven, Gene Kelly, Tom Cruise, Micheal Douglas, James Mason, Maurice Chevalier, Henry Fonda, Warren Beatty, Rock Hudson, Charles Boyer, Robert Taylor, Danny Kaye, Robert Preston, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Tom Bosley, David Tomlinson, Dean Jones, Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray, Woody Allen, Tim Currey, Tim Allen, George Burns, Richard Gere, Tom Selleck, Charles Gordon, Chevy Chase, Eddie Redmayne, Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy, Gene Wilder, Rex Harrison, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Michael Cain, Sr. Ian McKellen, Jim Carrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robin Williams, Danny DeVito, John Travolta, Bill Macy, Micheal Keaton, Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Bob Hoskins, Rowan Atkinson, Martin Freeman, Jimmy Stewart, Steve Martin, Leslie Nielson, Clark Gable, Richard Burton, Alec Baldwin, Peirce Brosnan, Russell Brand, and Ricardo Montalban, for the same reasons as the actresses. From TV--NOTE an asterisk designates a TV actor I also love in movies: *Dick Van Dyke, *Ted Danson, *Richard Mulligan, Gale Gordon, and Freddie Highmore
Music/Musicians = Victoria Wood, Nellie Mckay, Bea Arthur, Jill Sobule, Dido, Donna Williams, Laleh Pourkarim, Lily Allen, Regina Spektor, Lorde, Feist, Ashlee Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Hillary Duff, P!nk, Miley Cyrus, Joan Jett (and her bands), Suzi Quatro, Shakira, Alanis Morissette, Melissa Etheridge, Rod Stewart, Lita Ford, Cher, Britney Spears, Tracey Ullman, ABBA, Spice Girls, B*Witched, Black-Eyed Peas, Destiny's Child, The Cranberries, The Pretenders (Chrissie Hynde), The Go-Go's (and Jane Wiedlin particularly), Blondie (Debbie Harry), Nirvana, Grace Slick (and her bands), Dionne Warwick, Petula Clark, Pearl Bailey, Helen Reddy, Dolly Parton, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Fred Astaire, Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Durante, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Rogers & Hammerstein, Julie Andrews, Jeannine Deckers a.k.a. "Soeur Sourire" a.k.a. The Singing Nun, Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow, Burl Ives, Cat Stevens, Randy Newman, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Micheal Jackson, James Blunt, Farshid Amin, Arian Band, Pop of all eras (including "Traditional Pop" like Doris Day and Bobby Darin, among others, as-well as modern Pop--including all types and sub-genres), Dance/Club music, Middle-of-the-road music (MOR music), Easy listening, Lounge/Cocktail music of the swinging 1950s and 60s, Holiday/Christmas classics, Rock, Alternative, Folk, Standards, smooth Jazz, Classical, Muzak (i.e. elevator music/soft instrumentals/"beautiful music"), songs and scores from my favorite movies and TV programs (such as theme-songs), Singer-Songwriter, Showtunes, and occasional Opera, New Age, and World music.
Miscellaneous celeb/entertainer faves = Richard Simmons, Ruby Wax, Martha Stewart, Joan Rivers, Zsa Zsa Gabor
Celebs I'd trade heart/mind/life/existence with = Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French (especially these two!), Victoria Wood (especially her as well---she was BRILLIANT!), Dido Armstrong, Dolly Parton, Emma Thompson, Dinah Shore, Mary Martin (and I'd have a life-long love affair with Jean Arthur), Carol Channing, Carol Burnett, Betty White, Julie Andrews, Judi Dench, Shirley Temple, Isabella Rossellini, Ginger Rogers
Astrological/Numerological love-matches = those among my faves that I would supposedly get along best with:
Gwen Verdon, Faye Dunaway, Deborah Kerr, Lucille Ball, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Betty White, George Clooney, Cary Grant, Henry Fonda, James Mason, Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford
��� Okay, I admit-- I'm rather in-love with most of the above-listed actors, actresses, musicians, movies, and shows. So, not only would I like to be many of them, but I'd like to marry them as-well, haha! At least I get to live vicariously through them, each and every time I hear or see them on the screen, which is nice.
Yes, I definitely find that relating myself to favorite movies, music, and television tends to make the "real world" a bit more bearable. It may seem a trifle silly, but to quote some words of wisdom I once read from a fellow IMDb enthusiast, "Whatever brings comfort & positivity to your worldview, more power to it." ��� And that, in a nutshell, is why I'm here :-)
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An error has ocurred. Please try againFYI: Also included are TV movie-series' that feel more like a mini-series' than a movie-franchise.
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Reviews
Honeymoon (1947)
Why can't love just be a clunk on the head?!
Very cute movie! Movies that are this simple are very comforting. Life and people should be this simple, where a clunk on the head is all it takes to realize true love. There's something very blissful about the simplicity in that. Most people try to complicate everything, but these old movies were known for being comforting, because I guess they largely didn't try to complicate anything. Bread and butter kind of film.
And while it does have a lot of wacky trouble throughout, it all culminates to a very beautiful speech given by the older man in the film, summarizing perfectly, how older people wish to get back to youth , and the youth wish to rush to maturity. It is a bittersweet monologue on how there really is no perfect point in time, except where we are at the moment. True perfection is to live blissfully in the moment.
Wow, who would've thought such a simple kind of slapstick romcom could hold such a valuable life lesson?! As I've said before, there really is no such thing as a bad golden age of Hollywood movie. This is proof - being one of them that has been labeled with the BAD title- how good it actually is! If this is what constitutes a bad movie by old Hollywood standards, then what does that say about today's new movie standards?! Seriously!
On another note, Shirley Temple is so beautiful in this film! Yes, there is beauty in every age, but looking at her perfect features, unmarred by the wrinkles of time, I admit it does make me wish that at least those of us of the fair sex could stay perpetually maiden like.
Anyway, good film! Very good film.
Fools for Scandal (1938)
Failed because it wasn't a full-on musical!
Failed because it wasn't a full-fledged musical!
Having a Rogers and Hart song included here (during what was the best scene of the film ) makes one wonder why this wasn't adapted as a full musical. Surely, if it had been, it would have been a huge box office success rather than failure. But, I digress...
Now that I'm getting into Carole Lombard a little more, I'm having confirmed a suspicion that I've had for a while - that she is the queen of scream movies. And I don't mean horror, movies, but just that there is a lot of screaming in her movies! Anyone who watches her movies has to get used to that. A lot of battle of the wills, and a lot of screaming.
Another observation I've made, Carole Lombard reminds me a lot of Joan Crawford, in fact, when she had the dark wig on at the beginning of the movie, all I kept thinking was "Gee, she looks like Joan Crawford!" And as a big Joan Crawford fan, I hated to see her take the Joan Crawford looking dark wig off! It was a while before I realized that it was Carole! No wonder then, that Clark Gable was so smitten with both of them; he obviously had a type!
Anyway, again, I find myself wandering if maybe this movie was meant to be a musical, but the casting of Lombard prevented such a thing? Not sure. But that was my favorite part of the whole film! It could've been another Jeanette McDonald sort of "Love Me Tonight" but, alas!
All in all, since I don't believe in bad films from this era, because even a "bad" film from the Golden Age of Hollywood is often better than a " good" film of today, I will proudly go against the common consensus here and say this is a pretty good film! Not too remarkable, but one of those lighthearted trifles that the 1930s did so well!
Pearl (2022)
Ugliness, shot so beautifully, as to be a jewel in the horror genre!
If only every movie could be made as beautifully as this one, without all the horror, without all the Gore. I was attracted to this movie because, who doesn't love a good mystery, a good suspense? Plus, it just looks pretty. But, I could sure do without the graphic violence. Maybe someday, filmmakers will know how to achieve that balance.
This movie made me realize, though, yet again, that if we could use the technology of today, with the style of yesterday, we would have the most picturesque movies in history! Because there's no denying that there was something beautiful about old Hollywood, the Edward period, the roaring 20s, all the way through to the 1950s. Extraordinarily beautiful! But the technology of today, with our widescreen lenses, and the way that we film, if we could just stick to the style of the past, with the technology of the present, wow! We need to do that.
X (2022)
It was done in the style of "Psycho" (1960), it would be perfect!
Whenever I watch a movie like this, I always hope that it'll be done in the vein of something like a Joan Crawford horror movie - that is to say, no graphic displays of violence. We know the violence has occurred, but we don't have to see it. Nor do we need to see all the Gore, However, it seems like these days, we have a blood lust. And that does take away from my enjoyment of movies like these, that I would otherwise love the same way I love crime caper mystery.
I like it too much not to at least watch all three of these films though. What I like about it is the cast, the time period that it said, the score, the soundtrack, and the way it's shot. It's got this dreamy technicolor feel, while also, fabulous decade, accurate detail.
Another thing that I find very attractive about these movies is the femininity that they exude. There is a distinct difference between a male oriented, film and a female oriented film. That is to say, the more feminine of film is, the more focused on love and sex. Those are elements that I find very intriguing, the masculine movie is, the more focused on the violence. Is the case of almost every horror movie, they will always have some violence, but the focus on the violence tends to be different. Whether male or female oriented. This is definitely a female oriented film.
It was said during one interview with Mia Goth that we seem to be getting back to the erotic thrillers of the 1980s, and I appreciate that. Now, if we could just calm down the violence to match the far less graphic and gory visuals of the past (think Psycho 1960), then we will be back on track for some erotic thriller classics!
I'm looking forward to watching the other two in this series I will just have to look away during some of the more gory scenes, I suppose.
Side note: I have a feeling my girl Joan Jett would appreciate this film series.
We're Not Dressing (1934)
What a cast! Filled with laughs, music, and a little fear.
Other than feeling sorry for the bear, I loved this movie! Absolutely loved it! I mean, what a cast! There's Bing crosby, Carole Lombard, George Burns and Gracie allen, and even Ethel Merman!
The photography is great, the scenery is great, this is just a great movie. Quite a few nice laughs, as well. But like I said, I feel sorry for the bear. However, I like to think that it's okay, because these people loved the bear, and the bear loved the people. I know a lot of people believe that humans should leave animals alone, but I think there is a beauty in humans who really want to connect with animals and see them as our companions. But in doing so, precautions need to be taken, and that's why the bear was handled the way she was in the movie. It's not ideal, but I understand it.
Other than the awkwardness of that, this movie is fabulous! And Carole Lombard, who have never been quite taken by before, has managed to enchant me here! I guess all it took was a little Burns and Allen, a little music, and here I am! And so glad I am!and so glad I am!
Libeled Lady (1936)
Not bad, but I prefer the 1946 remake.
I liked it, but I definitely preferred the 1946 remake, called "Easy to Wed" starring Lucille Ball , Esther Williams, and Van Johnson.
The 1946 remake is almost identical, line for a line, except it has the addition of a few musical numbers. However, the dialogue is mostly the same. But to me, this just shines a light on what a great actress Lucille Ball was, because her line delivery was just unmatched! The movie was so much better with her. I must say, though, shockingly enough, Jean Harlow sounds a lot like Lucille Ball in this movie! Her voice and Lucy's voice are almost identical here. And that's a little disappointing, for somebody who associates Jean Harlow with her part in "Dinner at Eight" it was disappointing that she didn't have that same Minnie mouse kind of voice. Just a little observation.
I know this movie is considered a classic, and it does have a great cast. But to me, it's just another example of how remakes are not a bad thing. This movie was remade just 10 years after it came out, and the remake is a vast improvement in my opinion.
This is worth seeing for fans of classic 1930s comedies, but also for people who enjoy watching multiple versions of the same story, translated on the screen, to see the subtle differences and develop a greater appreciation for what goes into each film. That just happens to be one of my favorite hobbies, and I enjoyed adding this to it.
Many Happy Returns (1934)
We should all be more like Gracie!
Beautiful, adorable Gracie Allen! If only more people were as "crazy" as the characters she plays, the world would be a better place. It doesn't matter what's going on, she always sees the best in everything, and if it's not the best, she's got the best answer for everything. She's just the best! And gosh, but I love her voice!
Yes, she can be a little much to handle, but by the end, you just got to love her. Even George, who was forced to marry her in this movie, summed it up when he said "Gracie, you'll be the death of me! I don't know what to do with you! Then again, I don't know what I do without you!" And that's the beauty of Gracie and her screen persona, she's just so lovable, no matter how annoying, she's just so gosh darn adorable!
And let's face it, being too smart is really what is the death of us all. If we would all just live in a little more blissful ignorance, like Gracie Allen does on the screen, we would all be so much happier! Ignorance truly is bliss, but not only that, I think that it would make us better people, not just happier, but nicer. The more we know, the angrier we get, the more we act to lash out at people, etc. Ignorance is the answer to world peace. The smartest people can be some of the meanest. But the opposite is also true. Think about it. Or, better yet, think a little less, and be a little more like Gracie!
I love you, Gracie Allen! And George Burns, you weren't so bad yourself! My favorite showbiz Couple ever! They just make me feel good! The energy that they have together - not sexy, but rather sweet, innocent, and wholesome - but never drab, never boring, and not unromantic either. They have this wonderful oneness to them - a oneness that exudes family and unconditional love, and they exude this all while being so briskly funny and light. This is the kind of relationship I dream of! They just make me pleased and rather proud to be part of humanity, because they are two of my favorite humans! Gosh, I love them! How many more ways can I say it? I can never say it enough to express just how much I adore them!
Oh, and I just realized tonight that Gracie Allen was born in 1895, which is basically my girl Joan Jett's birth year scrambled, as she was born in 1958. Moreover, this film was sold to Universal for television distribution in 1958 too, so little Joanie in her bassinet might have seen this on the TV! Plus Gracie's sister in this movie is played by a Joan, i.e. Joan Marsh. And everything comes full circle!
Animals Distract Me (2011)
Isabella Rossellini shows us the wonders of the world!
Isabella Rossellini, daughter of old Hollywood legend Ingrid Bergman and Italian Cinema autuer Roberto Rossellini - she is my favorite nepo baby, one of my favorite models, a great actress, a great educator, a captivating storyteller! And above all, a sponge for learning, a student of nature and a philosopher, who playfully shares her love with an enthusiasm that is contagious!
She is precocious, yet wise. She is beautifully aged, yet incredibly youthful. She is a teacher, yet a student. She is a friend, yet a mentor. This is the remarkable energy that Isabella Rossalini emits in all of her projects!
Isabella Rossellini, the Renaissance woman of entertainment, who was born to be all that she is: a link to the past, while so in the moment, yet so futuristic and scientific. She is like the embodiment of a Sci-Fi Doctor Who come to life in the form of a very real woman. She is a parent to all who watch her. She brings us in with a warm embrace, and teaches us with such patience and kindness. Imagine having her for a best friend, a mother, a lecturer, a school teacher, a grandma! Oh, she wears so many beautiful hats!
Isabella Rossellini, you beautiful, comedic, quirky, genius Mastermind- you are SO my type!!
Pride and Prejudice (1940)
A disappointment for Jane Austen purists, but a good movie nonetheless!
The only thing I didn't like about this movie is that they changed the time period in which the story is set, thus altering the costuming of the Jane Austen world. And as we know, the costumes serve as a big part of what makes a Jane Austen story stand out on screen.
Having said all of that, even the costumes that were used were good, and the pace of the film is good, as well as the cast. A very good film, but it felt more like Meet Me in St Louis in vibes then Pride and Prejudice. That does have its appeal though, being a very old Hollywood kind of flavor.
Those who like old Hollywood warmth and likeness will probably love this movie. Those who are Jane Austen officionados will probably not so much. Either way, taken for what it is, it's a good movie.
A Family Affair (2024)
Today's nostalgia quencher, tomorrow's classic?
This was like Anne Hathaway's movie, "The Idea of You" - except better! Because it has Kathy Bates being one of the best grandmas ever, and Nicole Kidman, as her usual stylish and charming self, as well as Zac Efron in his best John Stamos energy!
When reviewing romcom from this era, I always hold them up against those from the 90s and , 2000s, to gauge quality- as I consider that the peak of the romcom. And this one meets that standard!
It's hard to tell if it's absolutely as good as a romcom from 20 or 30 years ago, but overtime, I do think this one has the potential to become a classic and its own right.
This movie is also special to me for a few other reasons:
The marquee featuring a Jean Arthur movie in one scene,
Twin polar bears featured in another scene, which are special omens to me, with a very personal meaning.
Watching this just a day before Debbie Harry's birthday also feels like a good omen, since Blondie music is featured in this film, along with Nicole wearing a Blondie shirt! All was missing to make it even better was a Joan Jett reference somewhere, but that brings me to my next special point of this film
Joan Didian mention! It may not be Joan Jett, but close enough, considering the other connections in this film. And considering the fact that Joan Didian wrote a book about the importance of "magical" thinking - I am going to continue seeing the magic in all of these signs. And then beginning to think there's something to this even deeper than that, because Joan Didian keeps being mentioned in so many of the movies I watch! She was even mentioned in "Miller's girl" - which featured Jenna Ortega talking about a character named Alice, which is my name. And on another occasion, Joan Didion was mentioned in "Ingrid goes West" - featuring Aubrey Plaza, who people often say should play Joan Jett in a biopic. It was the Aubrey Plaza character that was reading Joan Didion!
All those points and more, made me love the movie. It just got off to a great start, from the first second it came on the screen!
My complaints with the film are very minor, and they just have to do with the hairdo of Nicole Kidman, which I thought could've been so much better. That's where the 1990s and 2000s really shined, compared to now, as well as how quickly the characters engage in sexual activity. I prefer my romcom a little bit more PG. As well as the language. But, other than that, this is basically one big, beautiful bouquet of flowers!
Remembering Gene Wilder (2023)
Remembering a life of fate and destiny!
Before I get into my review, I want to address a complaint that I've seen here from people about this documentary. No, the narration was not AI generated! It comes from his own audiobook that he did before he died. Too bad that the people criticizing this movie couldn't have taken the time to find this out instead of jumping to such incorrect conclusions. But I digress..
Remembering a life of fate and destiny!
For somebody who was an atheist Buddhist, he certainly talked a lot about God. I don't believe he was actually an atheist, maybe more like an agnostic. Agnostic is just don't know for sure about anything, but you can have a belief, you just don't know if it's true. I think that was Gene. I believe he did believe in God. He was just open to being wrong about it.
His life was filled with evidence of God's existence as well, including so many brushes with fate. Too many to be mere coincidence. His life was filled with what I like to call Godwinks. And the beautiful thing is, he was open to the signs. He followed, where God led him. And his life was all the richer for it, full of meaning and higher purpose. He had faith.
He was a good man, and that was made clear throughout this documentary. So many documentaries show that the people we like had demons. But if Gene had any demons, they were channeled through his work only. In life, this documentary shows that he was a kind, gentle, caring, and compassionate soul - who also happened to be very, very funny. In addition to comedy, he was also a great writer, and a great artist - as well as student of life. One word that kept popping up over and over to describe him was "innocent" and it was very innocent that made him such a good student of life. He never thought he knew more than life could teach him. He was always willing to learn, and this made him forever young at heart. It was this quest learning that introduced him to his last wife, that he was married to until death did part. But because I know that somewhere inside him, he knew God, he must be in heaven now, watching over his beloved.
God bless you, Gene Wilder! You made the world a better place just by being the beautiful man that you were.
Selena (1997)
Very tastefully done biopic, made in a quintessentially 1990s chick flick way
Jennifer Lopez, seen here in her star making role, pre JLo days. And she's a beautiful revelation!
She reminds me so much of my Joanie- Joan Jett, in so many scenes in this film! And I recently realized that her and Joan Jett share a similar tone of voice when they're speaking sometimes. It seems whenever I really love a celebrity, they will always mirror Joanie in some pretty big ways, and I sure ain't complaining about that!
Jennifer Lopez is definitely my favorite actress of her generation, and she's such a delight on the screen! I remember when this movie used to come on TV all the time, and I avoided it because I thought that it was going to be tacky and explicit, and are rated. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that this movie is actually subtle, tasteful, and only rated PG- which definitely lends itself to the tastefulness.
By the time the movie was over, I found myself with a new interest in the singer on which the movie was based, Selena. And anytime a movie or piece of art can invigorate and lead us down a rabbit hole of further exploration and happy curiosity, it's a job well done. Good movie!
Here Comes Cookie (1935)
Gracie flirts with Georgie Porgie, while fate takes her for a ride!
George Burns and Gracie Allen: my favorite Hollywood couple of the golden age! And this might just be my favorite movie of theirs. At least so far!
I'm on a bit of a George Burns and Gracie Allen kick after discovering that one of the ways to fall asleep peacefully at night is to listen to Old Time radio. I first started listening to the old detective shows, because they do sound soothing - but be careful, because they can get into your subconscious while you're sleeping and impact the kind of dreams you'll have. So, I found out the hard way that it's much better to listen to something lighthearted like the George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, and I fall asleep feeling confident that my dreams will be at least not scary. They are such a comfort to me, those two!
My favorite part about this movie - the way Gracie Allen keeps calling George Burns Georgie Porgie. I could just feel the chemistry between them, and how wholesome their relationship was in real life, as mirrored by the wholesomeness of their relationship in this movie, however farcical it is.
Bonus points for the fact that Gracie Allen's father in the movie is named Harrison, my surname. Whenever my name or my girl's name is in a movie, I always know there's a positive message to be found there for me - a personal message. And I certainly found one here, one of lightheartedness and love.
So glad George and Gracie existed in this world, and thank God for the film restoration people that make sure old movies like these are not forgotten but live on through the passage of time.
The Boy Next Door (2015)
Too gruesome for a sexy thriller! Not sexy enough.
I expected a sensual, seductive thriller, not a borderline horror movie. This was not pleasant. Even the original Halloween with Jamie Lee Curtis was less gruesome when all was said and done!
I watched this because I will watch any chick flick involving Jennifer Lopez! She is, in my estimation, the number one chick flick star of modern Hollywood. The most beautiful, the most stylish. And that's the best thing I can say about this movie. Otherwise, I really didn't like it. Too mean-spirited.
I will give it an extra star for including the blonde vice principal character, played by actress Kristen Chenoweth, who is kind of like a modern day Jean Arthur.
Just You and Me, Kid (1979)
Brooke Shields is cute, but George Burns is cuter!
Less than a half hour in, and I already love this!
Some favorite parts: George Burns singing, the score of the film, the way his kitchen looks, a young and beautiful Brooke Shields, and just the light tone of the whole thing! Gosh, I just love it! Because of this movie, I will now have to check out other George Burns films, because I am now hooked! Though this is not the first movie I've seen him star in, it's the first time I've been present enough to really pick up on what I charming screen presence he has!
Update:
Finished it, and what a top notch cast! I wasn't expecting so many memorable people, such as Christopher Knight from The Brady Bunch, Burl ives, and others. This is so worth seeing!
Side note: I have quite a little crush on George Burns, I've just realized. I'm quite smitten with his voice and demeanor.
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010)
I see this as a test of faith, and the beautiful rewards that it offers.
I am the old lady in this movie, with a particular fondness for Joan of Arc. My Joanie! The mention of Joan of Arc puts this movie in a very special place for me, because of my own dear Joan. It figures that a movie about faith and Fortune would feature a name that means that to me. The name Joan holds so much meaning to me, just like what it means to believe. The name Joan means faith to me. And speaking of names, there is the Harrison in the film who is the aerobics instructor, and that's my surname. So there are links to both Joanie and I in this film, and that makes me love it even more.
This is one of those Woody Allen movies that is filled with what we've come to expect, lots of relationship drama, lots of jazz music, good scenery, slow pace, thoughtful dialogue. Even though it's not exactly the happiest resolution for all the characters, there's something about the way Woody Allen makes his movies that gives me such a rush of assurance in the higher meaning of everything. I'm not even sure if he is a man of faith, he may be an atheist, but in his way of thinking, he somehow causes me to reaffirm my own faith. It has to do with the philosophizing that he does. How philosophy aligns with heart. How heart relates to faith. How Faith confirms a higher power, and how that higher power can be seen in how we live our lives and the twists and turns that come.
The moral of this particular story is that those with faith will always come out ahead somehow- if only by their own happiness, a happiness which is the gift of faith. And that is why I'm the lady in this movie who believes.
Hired Wife (1940)
The romance is in the certainty and security of the bond. But sometimes, it takes a while to realize it!
Haven't even watched the whole thing yet, but there are a few ways I know I will like it. One, it's a movie made in the Golden age of Hollywood - and even the so-called bad movies from that. Are good compared to some movies of today. There really was no such thing as a truly bad movie from that time. Two, it's a romance, and romance is always good. And three, it's Rosalind Russell! Anything starring Rosalind Russell usually hits the spot with me.
So, I'm looking forward to enjoying this - because I know I will!
Update:
I was right! I really like this! It's such a simple movie, that you need to be in a simple mindset and in a lazy mood to really enjoy it. But this is a good, lazy afternoon or late night getting ready for bed movie. It just puts you in a easy going, worry free mood, because you just know that everyone is going to be okay in the end. And this is the feeling that you come away with, when watching a light movie like this. Thank God for them! This movie had a way of making me believe in love more as well. Anything that can do that is a good thing!
And Rosalind Russell does her best Mae West voice in this movie a lot of the time. She is so fun to watch on screen, and her voice is a character all in its own! No wonder she's one of my favorites - all at once sophisticated, and comical. One of the best!
Identikit (1974)
Terrifying, because we know that any one of us could be that crazy!
This is one of those crazy movies, like The Virgin Suicides and Doll's House, but with the European art house feeling of a movie like Breathless.
What I like about it is that it keeps you guessing until the end, not knowing exactly what is going to happen, even though you kind of have an inkling. It keeps you engrossed. But it's also gross.
And here, I thought the kind of insanity that we see on screen today is a reflection of how uniquely disturbed we are as a society today. And it's true that we are, but this movie will let you see that the roots of that disturbance were planted years ago. While this is still nowhere near as grotesque as some of the movies made today, the feeling of unease that one gets by the end will linger on long after the end credits roll, and it will make you want to promptly put on a Hayes code era film, from a time when none of these things were even allowed to enter the discussion! You will want to be protected, you will want to clear your mind of it all.
The irony is that Elizabeth Taylor started out in such gentle films as the golden age of Hollywood era demanded, and then she ended up in highly disturbing material like this. I guess it takes all kinds. And that's why this film is effective.
Laura Lansing Slept Here (1988)
Pretty good. Could have been better though.
My favorite part about this was the 1980s score, and everything 1980s! There's something cozy about that era. Something that felt easy going about it.
My least favorite part about this movie is that the family that Lansing goes to stay with not all that likable in the first place. When they do turn around and start to love her, I don't understand how such a change could have happened in such a short time. And besides how they felt about Laura, I still didn't find the family all that likable.
And a trifle little thing that kept bugging me throughout was how the TV set directly on the floor! I'm sorry, but I grew up in a TV cabinet household, if you didn't have a cabinet, you had a little table or something that you set the TV on. For the TV to just sit directly on the floor and for you to have to look down at it, no thank you! That's about as bad as today, where people tend to put their TVs up high close to the ceiling, where we have to look up at it. Whatever happened to eye level?!
One thing I really loved about it though, was that the character of Laura Lansing had some words of wisdom sprinkled throughout that would serve as good things for us to remember. She wasn't a perfect character, but she wound up being very likable!
Anyway, overall, a pretty good movie for people who like 1980s movies that are light, easy-going, and especially feature film stars from the golden age in their more sophisticated years.
A New Leaf (1971)
One man finds redemption in the lady he plans to kill!
Wound up being a lot more adorable than I expected. Although, Walter Matthau was a little less likable than I expected too. This movie is a contradiction. I like it though.
In a very twisted way, it's about soulmates - those karmic soulmates that come into your life to help you level up as a person. The two of them are definitely soulmates. They definitely improved each other, in a very twisted way. And by the end, I was so glad that they had each other.
The only thing I have a problem with is that math House character was a little that Walter Matthau's character was a little too callous and unfeeling for a long time, even up till the end. But it shows that even the worst people can have some good inside them. I think that the sweet character that Elaine May plays helped to access Walter's good part. In this way, the movie is a revelation and a study on The human condition and our capacity to make connection with the most unlikely people. I like to attribute this to fate, how destiny is always charting the course for us, and that we will see it, if we believe in God's will for our life.
Although this relationship is quite problematic when looked at objectively, my favorite thing about it is how effortlessly it worked. Walter Matthau literally had to do nothing but be himself, and Elaine may just accepted him for who he was and loved him. She also was secure in the feeling that he loved her. Even in the sweetest relationships, most of us don't have that much security. Most of us are constantly full of self-doubt. But neither of these people had to doubt how the other felt about them. For the character of henrietta, she just was full of the pure naivety of believing in love, and for the character of Henry's part, because of henrietta's purity, he never had to doubt for a second that she loved him. So, as problematic is this relationship is on some level, it is also one of the most effortless, pure love relationships I've ever seen depicted on the screen.
And the fact that they both had male and female versions of the same name is definitely a soulmate sign! If we pay attention in our own lives, we will find signs like that with people who are our own soulmates. Maybe not exactly that same sign, but look for the signs, they will be there.
I'm not sure that Walter Matthau's character believed in destiny, fate, or God. But he was definitely given a chance at redemption by the end. Amen to that!
Irish Wish (2024)
The most magical fairytale since Cinderella and her fairy godmother!
This movie is more enchanting than the movie Enchanted! And I love how it features a priest and saint. St Brigid being involved in the wish makes it all the more magical and profound.
This movie is not perfect, but it's pretty darn close! I think there must be a lot of cynical and sour people in this world to have rated it so low. It's actually one of the most enchanting fairy tales since Cinderella and her fairy godmother, except even better, because it involves God himself and the concepts of true fate and faith. I love it!
As a bonus, this makes me want to live in Ireland, and the beautiful talk of Ireland in the UK just makes me proud to have some of that flowing through my blood. And my girl Joan Jett is Irish English descent, and so this made me think of her. The only thing that could have made it especially better as if someone in the movies name was Joan, and/or if the day that everything started going right was September 22nd, her birthday. It does take place in september, so who knows, it might have straightened itself out on her birthday! I'd like to think so.
And yay for romcoms that don't include fast sex and crude this and that, extramarital crap, bad behavior, and just generally immature behavior.
Like I said, this wasn't perfect, but it was close to it and it was pretty wholesome. It makes it feel all the more romantic as a result. Here's to more PG rated romantic comedies and romances that are not made for tv Hallmark channel fare, but are legit general audience studio-backed releases like this one. So refreshing!
Gigli (2003)
If people call this bad, they don't know what bad is!
I actually thought this had some really good dialogue and it wasn't nearly as bad as it's reputation would have us believe. It was actually pretty good. In fact, I would give it a higher rating, except that I wasn't expecting a couple violent scenes, which almost ruined it for me. But then, it was redeemed in the end by a certain scene on the beach with the autistic boy, which proves that God works in mysterious ways! I immediately had the feeling upon seeing that, but whoever wrote it was divinely inspired, whether they realized it or not. Because things like that do happen in life. They are called Godwinks.
And, just like Jennifer Lopez in the movies says, guys usually don't do it for me, but Ben Affleck in this film somehow manages to be an exception. What a pretty boy! He reminds me a lot of Joan Jett's brother. I watched this movie for Jennifer lopez, and I ended up especially enamored with Ben Affleck! Go figure! That being said, Jennifer Lopez was quite a looker herself in this film. I was quite fond of her updos in this film as well.
The only cons that I really can think of about this movie is that it's an r-rated rom-com, and I'm not fond of any romantic comedy that is r-rated. Although, this, along with Jennifer Lopez's other r-rated romantic comedy, shotgun wedding, is very good. But they would be much better if they were PG or PG-13 at the most. That being said, this movie isn't nearly as bad as people say it is, and I rather enjoyed it.
The kidnapped brother was annoying to me until about a quarter of the way through, and then he started to be more endearing. By that point, I started to enjoy the movie itself overall.
Shotgun Wedding (2022)
The movie trailer doesn't do it justice!
This was surprisingly good!
The trailer made it seem like it would be excessively violent and hard on a weak stomach, but it actually wasn't. Yes, there was violence, but in a James Bond kind of way that wasn't hard to take.
This movie is like James Bond meets Rocky and Bullwinkle meats Runaway Bride.
It's very light and exciting. It feels like a throwback to the romcoms and action comedies of the 1990s. No, it doesn't feel as fresh as those still do, because there's something about the 1980s and 1990s that just suited romance and action comedies so well where it felt sincere every moment. Even the absurd felt true and earnest. Today, even the most well-meaning films have an air of cynicism to them and arrogance, I think because that's where we are as a society mentally. I hope someday we can get back to that genuine sincerity and, if I may say, Romanticism of the past. But in the meantime, this is a great step in that direction.
Jennifer Lopez has fabulous rom-coms. I would say she's my favorite leading Lady of the modern romcom, just based on this and about four other of her films. Also, above all else, I really appreciate her reverence for marriage in real life and in the films that she makes, because marriage is a sacred Bond fitting for something as sacred as one of a kind romantic soulmate love. Even though modern society likes to undermine and downplay the importance of marriage in modern times, time cannot diminish sacredness, and that's another thing I like about her movies. The one thing I didn't like about this one though, is the talk of premarital and extramarital sex. But hey, it's still more wholesome than a lot of rom-coms made today. So, it's still one of my favorite recent films. And I hope she makes many more of the genre.
The rest of the cast was perfect, and once again the scoring of the movie was also fabulous. A very pleasant watch, and I'm almost sorry I put it off for so long!
Side notes: I loved the "South Pacific" references, because it's one of my favorite musicals of all time, particularly the Glenn Close adaptation. And, someone I know is half filipino, so it was very nice to see that this was set in The Philippines.
And finally, all of the baseball references were so cute to me, and they reminded me of my own favorite baseball fanatic, Joan Jett! I love you, Joanie!
Secrets & Scandals of Carry On (2023)
A staggeringly prolific film series that offers something new each time!
This definitely made me want to watch just about all the films. Film film franchises are basically TV shows in extra long format. And this is a really cool TV show, with a different story every time!
The carry-on films make me think of the Bob Hope/Bing Crosby road films.
Sad What happened to the cast. John Sims seems like a really sweet person especially. Add this to the list of all the Joan I like! I think I'll start with her film "Carry on, Teacher!" (1959), made just a year or less after my girl Joan Jett was born!
It's nice to know that there's always something new to learn about Cinema, and for every Cinema aficionado, carry on films will be something worth checking out, being that they are some of the most profitable in British film history! And for fans of pre-modern comedy in general, you will get a kick out of how Free and easy these films feel compared to the uptight mores of today. Ironically, the films had to do a lot to get around the sensors, but although our censorship system is more inclusive in theory, it is actually more rigid now in practice, when you think about how much of this type of comedy would not be made today for much the same reasons.
Cheer up, let yourself feel carefree, and go watch a carry-on film!
Do Revenge (2022)
Not just a revenge movie - but better!
One of the best movies of its type I've ever seen! And I loved that it was inspired by the Patricia Highsmith story "Strangers on a Train" which gives this movie an air of sophisticated allure that it wouldn't otherwise have.
This is like "Clueless" meets "Mean Girls" meets "Heathers"- but with more heart. This movie sees the humanity and everyone, so that even the bad guys are sympathetic, because we are made to understand everyone so well. Everybody is so well thought out in this film. It doesn't come from a mean place, but from a place of frustration and vengeance, but not heartlessness. There's a lot of forgiveness here that I love.
Other praiseworthy notes of this film are the song selections included throughout, which are fantastic for every riot grrrrl fan, and every fan of Pop music. Also, the set design, the locations, the color palette, I'll make this film like a delectable piece of candy!
I also absolutely love the occasional voiceovers, and the cast. I'm a big fan of Maya Hawk, who has become an absolute favorite of mine. She reminds me of another Liza Minnelli. There's just something very Liza about her, and it makes her very adorable to me. I hope she gets to Star and co-star and many more films in the future!
Also, it's got one of the best closing sequences put to screen, and superb title cards.
It's truly one of the best films of its kind, ever made!