Movies I Do Not Heart

I am very sensitive. I bruise easily, I get my feelings hurt at the drop of a hat and am a picky eater, etc. Well, last night I was completely and utterly traumatized.

I was about to go to bed when I noticed this '80's movie starring Andrew McCarthy that I had never seen. James Spader was in it, but it didn't look anything like "Pretty in Pink." I clicked the INFO button my my DirecTV remote and noticed that it was a movie called "Less Than Zero." Well, it was late, so I decided to Google it right quick to see if I should record a later showing.

Big mistake.

The movie is based on a Bret Easton Ellis novel, although it doesn't have much in common with the book. Well, I read some very vivid descriptions of the book on Wikipedia, thinking it was the movie, and I really almost vomited. Unless you want to read vivid accounts of child rape and the such, DO NOT SEARCH FOR THIS MOVIE.

I feel sick thinking about it again.

I had trouble sleeping and had nightmares all night. I laid there and thought about how I was the same way when I was little. Once, I got so scared at the violence in a "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie that I convinced my sister to be the vice-president in our pretend group "Ban Inappropriate Material from the Media" or BIMM. My dad still laughs about it today. Of course, I was a little kid and I didn't understand the importance of the First Amendment, etc., but this illustrates that my sensitivity goes far back. BIMM also had a pretend sister organization NINN, or "Nudity Is Not Necessary." This one started after something else that traumatized me that I saw on TV.

And no, we did not watch a bunch of trash when we were little. These occurred during chance incidents of channel surfing.

I'm not Conservative at all, but I am highly sensitive. Don't get me wrong - I am a big believer in the First Amendment. Janet Jackson's boob - what was the big deal? It's the depiction of extreme violence and abuse that seems obscene to me. I wish that we as a society would yell about that instead of a quick boob shot.

I need to go to my "happy place" now - a.k.a. thinking about the Disney movie "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Once, when my sister and I were traumatized from seeing a movie - "The Vanishing" - my mom put that in for us. We were teenagers. And to this day, I have to think about it when I am traumatized from a movie.

Like right now.

Labels: movies, random

Country Came To Town

Yesterday, Bert and I went to see the third installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean" at the dollar movie theater here. First of all, I forgot that I don't like these movies...but that was not the big problem. The problem was that some people just act ridiculous at the movies!

Take for example the 350 pound woman in the front row. She spoke at a loud speaking voice during the movie, which drove me crazy. At one point, she yelled to the people in the row behind her if they would go get a refill of her jumbo size popcorn for her. It was unreal. Unreal.

And then there was the little boy about three rows behind us. He talked the entire movie, loudly. He would say things like, "Kill them, already!" and "Why don't they just kill them?" and his dad (or perhaps grandfather) would not tell him to shut up. And Bert was not too thrilled when I tried to tell the little boy to shut up.

And so, I was sitting there, fuming, over the lady in the front row and the loud children - I mean, come on, people...a three hour movie and you bring your kids? It makes no sense. And then, Bert leaned over to me and said, "Baby, what is that phrase you are always saying about this type of thing...country come to town or something?"

I laughed so hard. That was exactly it.

And so, that was my Saturday afternoon.

Labels: movies

I Heart Paris (not Hilton)

I have wanted to visit Paris for as long as I can remember. I, like my grandmother, have always taken an interest in all things French. There's just something so romantic and beautiful that my mind conjures at the very thought of the France. I studied French in high school, as well as college. I have Eiffel Tower earrings, a French bracelet, two Eiffel Towers and an Eiffel Tower picture at home. My wall calendar and desk calendar, as well as some prints in the dining room are French as well. Bert and I recently went to see the Louvre exhibit at the High in Atlanta, and I have beautiful magnets of French art on my refrigerator now. You would be amazed at how well French, Indian and American decor blend.

Well, last night, I experienced something new. A French film...or rather 18 French films. Bert and I went to see "Paris, je t'aime" (Paris, I love you) at a new arthouse movie theater here. It's a neat place and I have been before because my work partners with them on a film festival. However, I had never seen a movie there before. We walked into the neat building, decorated in different shades of blue. The interior is very structural...looks very New York-ish. It's different than most movie theaters...they have a bar, reasonably priced candy and ice cream.

Bert and I got there a little early and were enjoying taking in all the sights and chatting with people we knew that were there. Soon, it was time for our movie. The film is really 18 short films directed by different directors. Some of the directors and actors were famous, others I had never heard of. All of it dealt with love in Paris. Although each short was about five minutes long, three of them really made me choke up. Three were crazy. And several really touched me. They were all really different; it was a beautiful experience.

This was such a fun evening and even though most of the shorts were subtitled, Bert was a great sport. What a great date night.

I really can't wait to go to Paris.

Labels: movies, travel

Three Out of Four Stars

I normally don't like black and white movies, but for some reason, late last night I was sucked into AMC. I was flipping the channels at 10:30pm, about to turn it off at any moment as my NyQuil was kicking in. I love "the Quil." Anyway, for some strange reason, I was sucked into the movie, "The Children's Hour" starring Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine and James Garner. The movie is about an all-girls school run by Hepburn and MacLaine, and one of the girls who is very bad starts saying that the teachers are lesbians. Yes, lesbians...I was in shock! I couldn't believe they tackled that topic in 1961 in a black and white film. They never used the world lesbian or homosexual or anything...but it was clear what the accusation had been.

*SPOILER ALERT BELOW*

And so, the teacher's lives are ruined, all the girls leave the school and the teachers never even leave the house anymore. Finally, the fact that the accusation was a lie comes out, but it's too late. MacLaine had moments before admitted to Hepburn that she DOES love her "in that way" and kills herself. Although Hepburn's reputation is restored, it is a sad, sad film.

The movie was very interesting and I stayed up way too late watching it. It gave me a lot to think about - how lies can ruin lives and the stigmas people deal with for being different. I am glad we live in a time now where people wouldn't be ostracized from society for being different. At least, I hope that's how the world is today...but I still think we have a ways to go.

Labels: movies

Stolen Oscar

If you have not seen the movie "Blood Diamond," you should run to the nearest Blockbuster. This is the most incredible movie I have seen in years.

It really puts everything into perspective. This movie really opened my eyes and made me realize how lucky I am that every day of my life is not spent hoping I don't get shot by rebel forces. It is so sad to think what goes in not only in Africa, but all over...Iraq, Palestine, etc. It is a scary world out there and we in America are spoiled rotten.

See this movie. It should've swept the Oscars. It did much more than entertain me - the 2.5 hours went by in a flash - it changed me.

Labels: movies