IMdb movie competition (pt.III) the Good Watches list

Out of the thirty films I watched in September 2007, these are my Good Watches. They are listed from favorite to least (rating is on a 5 scale):

The Great Escape (4)
This movie is an inspiring film with a different approach to the typical war movie. Although not the best outcome for our characters, I still saw it as a very uplifting film. and overall enjoyed it considerably.

Chinatown (4)
Great detective story, maybe the best one I've seen to date. Great mystery, inner personal relations and the witty and smart ass Jack Nicholson is perfect for his character's role. The best (hardest) scene to watch is 'she's my sister/she's my daughter,' which is beautifully acted by Faye Dunaway.

Some Like it Hot (4)
What a breath of fresh air between all the heart wrenching dramas on the list! Some Like it Hot is a lighthearted comedy with a good mix of character building, action, and great chemistry between Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Merilyn Monroe's adorable and hot character makes up for her lack of acting ability.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (4)
I love Jim Carrey in serious roles. I admire the attempt to show a realistic portrayal of a somewhat dysfunctional relationship and love. Interest idea overall.

12 Angry Men (4)
Some people say you can't have a movie or book take place all in one setting-- this movie proves otherwise. A feel good movie about the system working-- let's hope all of us will have this dedicated of juries in our own cases.

Lawrence of Arabia (4)
I found the main character inspiring because he was so invested in another people's issues and culture. Peter O'Toole is amazing in his first lead role in a movie. Although at times O'Toole looks like an over stretched scarecrow. One of my dislike about this film is the framing of the main story where the beginning and ending the movie are placed back in Britain years after the main story's events. This takes away an element of interest-- since the audience already knows how Lawrence dies. So far I would argue that this is Omar Sharif best performance.

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship (4)
Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (4)
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (4)
I'm a huge fan of the book series and the movies. for the most part the changes made in the movies make sense from a filming prospective.

The Philadelphia Story (4),
Other than remembering that I enjoy this film-especially the chemistry between Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn-- I can't remember much about it. I love Grant's tongue and cheek character and Jimmy Stewart's lovable reporter character and the play-like plot was amusing. Mostly I just remember having a fun time watching it.

God Father pt. I (3)
God Father pt. II (4)
overall entertaining. best scene is Keaton and Pacino argument where she tells him she has had an abortion.

Finding Neverland (3)
A fun and heartfelt film. One of Johnny Depp's best performance, with a lovable plot about creating Peter Pan, the play and nurturing your inner child.

Spartacus (3)
I remember watching this film when I was a child and really enjoy parts of it. So I was excited to see it again for the competition. Spartacus does run long at 198 minutes (or at least with the new version from 1991), but for the most part doesn't drag. Kurt Douglas is alright in the lead role but Tony Curtis steals the show. I was surprise that a heavy innuendo scene talking about bisexuality was allowed in to a movie at the time of censorship. Overall, a moving film about the underdog.

Big Fish (3)
Wonderfully shot and fascinating ideas brought to the screen with flawless computer graphics. Great use of color and storytelling for a bigger then life character.

Ox-Bow Incident (3)
This flick starts the breathtaking Henry Fonda in a similar role that he plays in 12 Angry Men. However instead of being the accused champion, he is a bystanders that although stands for what is right, doesn't force others to see his viewpoint. There were a few scene that felt misplaced at the beginning (why do we need to know about the painting in the bar or the past love interest?), but after the main plot starts, everything is well done.

The Great Dictator (3)
One of Chaplin's first sound films. Still with some slap stick humor with a barber's chair and a dance with a globe, Chaplin once again takes a serious world issue and brings it to light.

Bird and Her Eggs at Taste of Lone Tree

The Taste Of Lone Tree

Hamburg and Seared Tuna Sliders from Leo Cafe'

Friend Mike and I headed over to the Taste of Lone Tree last weekend. It turned out to be pretty nice weather with the sunny hiding behind some clouds. Overall, this event was a wonderful experience. Unlike Taste of Denver, one pays a $10 entry fee and can eat as much food as he/she can handle (where as in Taste of Denver you end up spending $50 on a meal that wouldn't feed a picky five year old.) the samples were generous, the servers friendly and the music killing. (Turned out the music was provided by a former coworker Jeff. We ended up talking for a half hour. If you're ever looking for a DJ he's your man.)\

There was probably about dozen to twenty booths for food and another dozen or so for art. As far as food goes, the vast majority of the restaurants that participated in the fair were located around the United Artist Theater, but there were a few from the Park Meadow's Mall area and a restaurant named Mosaic (with their short ribs in brown sauce with sour cream, chives, and black Hawaiian sea salt) off of Lincoln. Sushi was overly represented with four booths the best one was John Holly's hand roll of Ungi and mango-- a surprisingly tasty combination. Granted sushi probably isn't the best sampled at 90 degree weather so we'll have to visit the restaurants to see them in they're true glory. My favorite food was by far the sliders from Leo's Cafe', which appears to be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Newly opened Grazio's brownie dessert melted Friend Mike's heart. Grazio also had the clever idea of handing out free gift cards that were any where between $3 to $20. The catch was, however, you won't know how much it's worth until you use it at the restaurant. Coupons and discounts ran wild at the booths.

For the most part the art work was typical nature, flowers, Colorado landscape pictures and photos. But I did end up getting a piece with gold fish on a red background and a quilt card from two different booths. I thought the quilt booth was interesting because it's not an art work you find anymore and all the pieces were so beautifully done. Another 'art' there was Cadillacs and I think Mike spent much more time looking at these beauts then any booth on the strip.

The Dreaded First Blog

I have always found that the first blog is always the most difficult. For some strange reason it feels like I'm trapped in a large room with strangers-- my hands sweaty, my heart racing, hoping against hope that no one notices me or if they do they're courageous enough to started the conversation. Because let's face it, I'm going to saying something cleverly crafted like 'You're lips remind me of an angel fish with Christmas hooks dangling off it.' yeah that's me... smooth.

I guess the the only similarity about the large party and the blog is that I feel like I should say something--meaningful, thoughtful, interesting-- and have the horrible feeling that I'll fall short.

But here's the real painfully beauty of the blogging world-- nothing will get done if I don't start it.

Geeze!

So what are the important things to know about me?

• I'm a native of Colorado and for the majority of my life I've lived in the Denver area.


• I went to Mesa State in Grand Junction for my BA in English (granted you will not find any that fancy stuff called grammar or good spelling at this blog)
  
• I'm in my mid-twenties-- but most of the time I either feel thirteen or eighty. What can I say, I have the body of a thirteen year old and the senile common sense of an eighty year old.


• I hate tuna sandwiches-- the only thing I will not put in my mouth ever again.


• I'm planning on become the crazy, old, cat lady-- if there are any openings in your community let me know and I'll send in my application and resume.
  
• I'm not a fan of the color orange BUT my whole apartment is in this color and I just love it.


• I'm the goddess of paper at my work


• The only perfume I own is called 'Oil of Street Car' that my father picked up in New Orleans some years ago


• I own over 400 books and I'm sure I've only read at best a 1/4 of them


• I love taking pictures. the camera I'm using for 'the around the town' pictures is my Nikon Coolpix 2100-- a camera the parents bought me four years back for Christmas and only in the last years has actually been used.


• I'm having a hard time finding pictures of myself. mmmm must working on that.

The General idea for this blog:

• I plan on doing three to five entries a week all on the weekends so if I haven't blogged in awhile don't worry they're coming
• I'll most likely be lazy and just post a picture for one of my weekly blogs.
• heck, the general idea can be gathered from the introduction of this blog.

that's it for now kids!