Movies

As you can tell, the last several posts have been cranky pet peeves. Well, now I'm influenced by a positive thing on facebook! I was thinking of good Cary Grant films when my friend said something about Christmas movies. That made me start thinking of my favorite old holiday movies. Here are my favorite holiday movies that come to mind. I purposely left out plot points In order of date:

1. Holiday: (1938) Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant. This is a Grant movie that sort of flies under the radar compared to his other work. It isn't necessarily a Christmas holiday movie. In fact...I might have it mixed up and it has nothing to do with Christmas time. It is just that I got it as a gift for Christmas...not sure. Still, fun and also fun to see a young Cary and Katharine.

2. Shop Around the Corner: (1940) James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan. If you like the movie You've Got Mail, then watch this, because this is the original movie. (Although this movie is based on a play). Classic romantic comedy, set around the holidays.

3. The Man Who Came to Dinner: (1942) Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Monty Woolley. I'll be completely honest...I haven't actually seen this movie. BUT! BUT! My parents have, and they love it and have told me to watch it. I'll take their word for it!

4. Christmas in Connecticut: (1945) Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet. I still like to say "It's a cat-a-stroph!" Fun and funny. This is another movie that I watch every holiday season. It is the fun "everything is about to be in shambles" type of comedy.

5. It's a Wonderful Life: (1946) James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore. This is a movie that seems to sort of be a classic movie. Everyone watches this, A Christmas Story, and Elf every Christmas. Well, we didn't really watch it every Christmas, opting for comedies The Bishop's Wife or Christmas in Connecticut. Still, I do like this movie a lot.

6. The Bishop's Wife: (1947) Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven. As religious of a movie as my family ever watches. I love it. The ice-skating scene, in particular, is a classic. As is the scene where Cary Grant's character (who is an angel) gets a scholar drunk. Love it.

7. Miracle on 34th Street: (1947) Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood. Classic story. I like this version as well as the 1994 version.

8. White Christmas: (1954) Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen. One of my all-time favorite Christmas songs is from this movie. Bet you can't guess which one it is!!!

9. Desk Set: (1957) Specer Tracey, Katharine Hepburn. Classic Tracy/Hepburn movie. One of the funnest things about this movie is the depiction of the times. It is about the computerization of a TV network's research department. Classic fast talking witty dialogue makes this really fun. To be honest, I don't remember any Christmas or holiday stuff in this movie, either, but um...oh well.

10. Bell, Book, & Candle: (1958) James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon. This is a movie that isn't necessarily a Christmas movie, but it takes place in the winter, and I think they tend to play it around the holidays on TMC and other channels like that. It also features a cat named Pyewacket. When we first found Mooch at the Pilot gas station, I had entertained the thought of naming him Pie, after Pilot, and I particularly liked it because it would double as Pyewacket. It didn't stick, though, so Moochy it was.

Bell, Book, & Candle is the only movie in this list that is in color, not black & white. Check out this cool psychedelic-ish Italian poster: 

Guardians of the Galaxy

Justin and I recently went to see Guardians of the Galaxy and had quite a bit of fun. I didn't really know what to expect because I'm not at all familiar with the comic book or characters, which is good, because then I don't have any expectations going in. Justin loved it! I liked it a lot. I sometimes got a little uncomfortable with the violence, but I'm sort of sensitive to that anyway, I suppose. In the end I had to think of it as a comic book world and not get too caught up in it!

One of my favorite things about this movie is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. Even the most serious villain (Ronan (played by Lee Pace!)...and I guess Thanos, although we don't really see him much) seems over-the-top, exactly like comic book villains are. That was fun. I also really like Chris Pratt's acting. He is cool, but not overly Tony-Stark cool. He is also goofy, and that is entertaining.

I particularly like this poster because there is something very Star Wars-esque about it.

Upcoming Movies 2012

There are a lot of really great movies coming out this year and because I'm excited for them, I'm going to post the movies I am looking forward to most. The Avengers: May 4

Dark Shadows: May 11

Brave: June 22

The Amazing Spiderman: July 3

The Dark Knight Rises: July 20

Skyfall: November 9

The Hobbit: December 14

Fantastic Thanksgiving Break!

On Wednesday I left work early and me and Justin went to the brand new Natural History Museum in SLC. It was AWESOME! I highly recommend it. It is extremely well done. Very small (and big) details with the architecture tie everything together. It was impressive and a lot of fun to explore. Then we went to Biaggi's at the Gateway, which I have never been to, and I had a delicious butternut squash ravioli. Justin had a lobster noodle dish with black noodles (Which we later found out was cuddle fish ink. It was kind of unexpected to me, haha). THEN, (and Chelsea, I have to thank you for this) we went to Gourmandise for dessert, where I got a little tinsy bit carried away! I should always remember to just get those french macarroons, they end up being my favorite anyway.

Thursday was Thanksgiving! We first went to Justin's family's Thanksgiving dinner, which was conveniently just down the road and had the bonus of Jaymee's delish brownies, then went to our Thanksgiving dinner, which was also very yummy. (And also conveniently about 3 hours later, otherwise I would have been sick). This year my mom made Success Cake, a Norweigian cake we discovered in Norway this past spring, and really love. Then I worked on my puzzle and later went to Justin's house and played Lego Star Wars on the Wii! It made me really want to watch the movies. (Another thing I have to thank Chelsea for. I have a very distinct memory of sitting on your bed and watching Star Wars on your little TV.)

Friday morning we went and watched The Muppets! It was hilarious, I really loved it. Possibly more than Puss in Boots, I have to say. Then I tried to register my car, but was stupid and forgot my photo I.D because I didn't think we were going to register it after the movie. (And since my mom bought the tickets online, I didn't think I needed my purse. I guess I should get in the habit of always taking my purse everywhere, but, meh.) Then Friday night I went rock climbing with Erin! (see previous post)

Saturday I slept in and was a lazy bum. I then didn't do much else, except in the afternoon I went to the Owens to watch Arsenic & Old Lace, a Cary Grant classic! :)

And now it is Sunday night, and you may have noticed that homework is not mentioned in any of the above days. Because I'm a genius and put everything off until last moment, even when I clearly have plenty of time. Oh well, I'll get by. I did get a little bit of homework done and played Minecraft, then decorated for Christmas at Justin's house. It makes me excited for Christmas and for the end of the semester. I want to do a lot during Christmas break!

Hopefully these next 2 weeks don't kill me.

Puss in Boots

IS SO CUTE!

Upcoming Movies

Now that I am (almost) done with school, I have been craving movies. I recently saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt.1, and have been wanting to fill the hole that has been left by the lack of the instant Pt.2. These are upcoming movies that I want to go see.

The King's Speech

I love period movies. I love the british. I love history. Enough said, really.

The Eagle

Okay, I have mixed feelings about this one. I don't think it looks AMAZING, (although I've made that judgement before, and was very pleasantly surprised.) I am most interested because of Jamie Bell, haha. (also, I am hoping there is something 'The Thief'-ish about it.) AND, they travel to the Highlands of Scotland!

The Dark Knight Rises-(Potentially unofficial trailer. Can't quite tell.)

This kind of goes without saying.

Chronicles of Narnia


Okay. So maybe this movie should be too young for me. But wutevs.