With An Alternate Plan

Sometimes movies just strike a chord with me.

The first time I saw Meet Joe Black, I wandered out of my apartment afterward in a haze and just kind of walked around and.....looked....at things. I felt wide-eyed and in the mood to marvel at the world around me. Ever since, it has always been one of my favorite movies.

Whilst in the throes of germs this weekend/Monday (which constitutes the length of a holiday weekend, no? a holiday germ weekend? it's a thing now?) I watched a lot of movies and TV shows. I was on the verge of despairing boredom when I stumbled across a movie that I had, admittedly, stumbled across many times before while combing the Internets for worthy film fare.

Elizabethtown.

I'd passed it up in the past because, to be honest, the name screamed "Jane Austen!" to me and I really have to be in the right mood to take on a Jane Austen-esque film. Turns out it is....not that. haha. Premise: Young man (Orlando Bloom) in the midst of career woes hears of his father's death and flies to backwoods Kentucky to sort out dysfunctional family affairs, meeting a quirky and engaging flight attendant (Kirsten Dunst) along the way and so on and so forth.

I elicited this movie's help to stave off the last of my sick-holiday-length-weekend boredom, and instead it surprised me. It charmed me. It lifted some weight and angst off my shoulders about various life issues, as movies about death frequently do. (See? Just like Meet Joe Black. The entire plot of that movie is death. I guess I have a thing. Does this make me dark? That death uplifts me? Excuse me while I go sit in the corner of a record store and wear black and....sketch things.....)

Anyway. ANYWAY. One recurring theme that kept striking me throughout this movie was the idea of alternate plans. The idea of....detours. That you can set out on journeys, goals, life trajectories, what-have-you, only to discover somewhere along the way that something doesn't quite fit anymore. Sometimes it's death. Sometimes it's divorce. Sometimes it's a career setback. Sometimes it's some kind of spectacular failure. Sometimes it's just a change of heart, that makes you pause at a fork in the road....or makes you simply walk off the road and start blazing your own little path through the underbrush, if there is no clearly paved fork provided.

It reminded me, again, that I need to be open to detours. To deviations. To distractions of the best kind. To seeing something, or someone, that I immediately know is a "yes" and be willing to step off my comfort ledge for it, come what may. To quote one of my most treasured quotes from Meet Joe Black, "Stay open. Who knows? Lightning could strike."

And to quote Elizabethtown:

"Here you have reached a fork in the map. You can go to your car and the rest of the directions will take you home. Or...look for a girl in a red hat...who's waiting for you with an alternate plan."

"All Good Things Run Wild & Free" shirt by Flybird Apparel, birthday gifted to me by a dear friend. (And now dying over their daydreamer shirt, good golly someone take my wallet from me. BUT IT HAS A DREAMCATCHER)

movies: The Giver trailer

Are you a fan of the book The Giver?

This was one of the first novels I read as a wee lass....no, I think I hate that phrase...as a young child. It was one of the first dystopian novels....a la Hunger Games, Divergent, etc...before that genre really exploded. I always loved it, so the idea of a movie adaptation made me oh-so-happy!

...and then I saw the trailer. 

So...there's new dialogue and attractive teenage characters and...color....and...alien abductions...? ...? What? On a positive note, if they are going to age Jonas by several years at least he's nice to look at. This article used the words "Aussie" and "strapping." *throws book out the window* *buys movie ticket and popcorn*

Mostly, I'm worried this will be an attempt at being like Hunger Games that isn't as good at the Hunger Games type of movie and then everyone will think it's just a lame movie that tried to be Hunger Games. Look, I like HG. I do. But I would have preferred to see The Giver as some kind of artsy indie film. One with good music and things that provoke thought. But for now we have Aussies and alien light beams, I suppose.

I guess there's always hope? Now you watch it and tell me what you think:

movie review: The Book Thief

"I am haunted by humans..."

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SO, I actually saw this film a week before it came out.
Can I get an amen for prescreenings? And a friend who offers you a free ticket to said prescreening and you're like "h to the -ella yeah, I'm so there"? ....amen.

My thoughts:

When a book is in your top 5 favorite books e.v.e.r. and you've been waiting eagerly, it's really hard not to be overly critical of the movie version. And trust me, the naysaying, nitpicking voice was going in my head the whole time. But not enough so that I didn't still really like the movie. Let's break it down in list format...

All the Yes

• Rudy. Bless your heart, little yellow-haired, kind-eyed Rudy.
• The aging of Leisel. I love that she sincerely looked like she aged a few years over the course of the movie...in terms of both looks and confidence. (And hair length, whaaaat.) That was extremely well reflected from the book to the screen.
• OK, the casting in general. I honestly think every character was spot on. Leisel, Rudy, Hans, Rosa, Max. Totally winning the day on that front.
• The relationships were particularly well portrayed. Leisel and Rudy, Leisel and Max, Leisel and Hans, Hans and Rosa. (The last is one of my favorites. So gruffly tender.)
• The cinematography. I loved the panning shots of trains, Germany, the little town, etc. The entire film had an overall quaint charm to it that I found absolutely delicious. The book enthralls me in the same charming, haunting way.

All the No

• The British narrator. He sounded almost...cheery? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEATH INCARNATE, NARRATOR VOICE. I would have preferred we put Britain aside (the movie takes place in Germany, guys) and gone with something more like Death's voice from Meet Joe Black. (Speaking of favorite films, hot hooverdam that's a good movie.)
• On the topic of narrator, if you're going to put SOME of the narrations in there, please do not skip my favorite line ever about Rudy. Please, just...do not do that. That absence broke my heart more than a little. #oversight #dubthatinplease
• Making up an epilogue about the rest of Leisel's life. Must you do that? MUST YOU DO THAT. The scenario I imagined in my head involved a little more Max and a little less of whatever other fairytale you chose. Psssh. Turn that off and let my imagination take this one, por favor.

...no other major criticisms, actually. There were some minor plot variations here and there, but not enough that it bothered me. (Minus the one about Hans Hubermann not sitting up by Leisel's bed every night when she had nightmares. That was one of my most favorite details from the book.)

Final opinion?
You really honestly cannot beat the book both in terms of story and delivery. So, the movie is never going to live up to that standard because you can't have the same narrative style as the book does. Still, I'd say it's a movie definitely worth seeing. The more days that pass since I saw it last week, the more I want to see it again. So, that's saying something! And if you haven't read the book, be prepared to have your heart stepped on a little.

And finally, because I can: "He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It's his only detriment. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry."

Did you see it? Thoughts? Opinions? Haikus?

p.s. I must apologize for my lack of Ender's Game review. I saw it opening night, and then I slacked on writing the review, and now I feel the time has passed. I'll just say: from one avid lover of the book, it's worth seeing at least once. Fun film. Stays pretty true to the book.

Movie Trailer: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

You know a trailer is good when it doesn't even need words.

I first saw the preview for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty when I went to see Gravity last week, and it was a hook, line and sinker experience. I love that the trailer tells you just enough but still keeps you guessing a delicious amount of mystery.

Sometimes I just know that movies will speak to me. Like Moonrise Kingdom last year. (Admittedly sometimes the good ones sneak up on me, like this surprise favorite of the year thus far.) There are so many exciting movies coming up in November (ENDER'S GAME BOOK THIEF CATCHING FIRE ETC ETC ETC) but now I've also got my eye on the end of December for some Walter Mitty. I do love me some Ben Stiller! (I know my freckled meggles is excited too. We discussed it.)

Check it out:

...does it look like your kind of film?

I love the exhilarated look on his face when he jumps into the helicopter...like his own bravery is surprising him. Man, I totally get that.

movie review: Gravity

Let it be said that I still want to go to space.

It's my #1 ambitious bucket list item to see the earth from the outside, like a swirly marble. I would really like to go all the way around the planet and see the Aurora Borealis from the outside, etc. I'll start with seeing it from the inside sometime. But back to the movie....

The trailer for Gravity only mildly hooked me, as much as I love space...and Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. But then my friend told me that it was getting insane praise, including a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, so I was like, "Sure, let's do this."

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My overall reaction? (no spoilers!)

Go see it...unless you can't handle anxiety or get easily motion sick. (I did see it in 3D, but regardless, there was a lot of spinning in this movie.) One of the guys I was with said it was one of the best movies he's ever seen. For me, it was more like Castaway -- an awesome, thought-provoking movie that I enjoyed but probably won't watch repeatedly.

I will admit that I had my moments in the middle where I thought, "We're beating this I'm-struggling-in-space-and-things-keep-going-wrong horse to death." I feel like, unlike Apollo 13 (to cite a similar film), I didn't feel as connected to the characters in this one. However, that connection came like 3/4 of the way through the movie with some more moving, personal moments. The last 20-30min reeled me back in and added to the tense anxiety-fest that characterizes most of the movie. And, the movie is only 90min long. (Praise the heavens, more movies should figure out the benefit of a shorter film these days.)

Other than the stunning space visuals, I really liked some of the deeper metaphorical stuff in the movie about courage, recovery and rebirth. I can't find the exact quote online just yet, but at one point there were these words that just spoke to me. It went something like, "I'm either going to come back with one hell of a story, or die in an explosion in the next 10 minutes. Either way, it'll be one hell of a ride."

...kind of reminds me of the whole move-to-California-by-myself thing I pulled off this summer, eh? I love that mentality. Go all in, because...why not? It made me consider if I'm currently holding myself back from anything in my life. Always a good topic to ponder.

Anyone else seen it yet? Thoughts?

p.s. Congrats to Amanda for winning the Moo card giveaway! Thanks to everyone who entered :)

movie review: 42 (and a rant on modern prejudice)

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If you haven't heard about this movie, please go watch the trailer right this minute. Done? How are those goosebumps on your arms?

I went and saw this gem a couple days ago, and first let's note that I went and saw this movie, in the theatre, by myself. First, this is further evidence that I am growing increasingly attached to my alone time (see here). Second, it's something I've always wanted to try. And, it was awesome! I felt neither insecure nor lonely. I fully recommend it. Plus, I had a free movie pass and I can't argue with that.

This movie did not disappoint. Here are 4 reasons why:

1. I just love baseball.

I do, I really do. It ignites feelings within me of summer and childhood and family and Benny the Jet Rodriguez. There is nothing more to say about this.

2. I'm a sucker for inspirational sports films.

Rudy! Rudy! Rudy! I'm always up for this genre. I totally adore those ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries. Fact: Just listening to the Rudy theme song makes me feel emotional.

3. I want Rachel Robinson's entire wardrobe.

Ahhhh! Someone please teleport me to the 1940s so I can wear pretty, feminine dresses every day of my life!

4. It got me thinking about modern prejudice.

Every time I watch one of these civil rights, racism-focused movies it stirs something inside me. And I feel like they're all the rage in recent years, from Remember the Titans to The Help. Every time that feeling of repulsion and "how could they treat people like that" stirs inside me, I remember that my own generation still has a long way to go. I hope that when my kids are my age, they'll be watching movies about how gay men still weren't allowed to serve in the Boy Scouts of America in 2013 (this embarrasses and infuriates me every time I think about it) and how the world finally woke up to the fact that homosexuality does not equal pedophilia, just like black skin never equaled worthlessness. And what about gender inequality, religious persecution, and still ongoing racism (ever heard a Muslim called a terrorist)? The point is...we'll get there. And someday we'll be watching movies about our own Jackie Robinsons and feeling glad we've put the closed-minded hate behind us.

Have you seen 42? What did you think?
And have you ever seen a movie at a theatre alone?

p.s. Did you enter the $250 giveaway yet? It ends on Friday! Hop to it!