Saturday, June 21, 2008

Growing Up in the Cinema

I've had this in the cue to work on for some time. I'm not sure where it came from. Probably Keris. Of course I've altered it to suit my own ego.

Films That Remind Me of Childhood

Star Wars - I went to see this at the other end of town with my babysitter, Keith. Not the greatest baby sitter but he had a good mind for films. I loved Star Wars and I immediately fell in love with Han Solo (like millions of other young girls). I don't remember how old I was but I remember Keith taking me for soda. It was a self dispenser and you walked around it and filled up your own plastic mug with whatever flavour you wanted. I followed Keith's example and took a smidgen from each flavour, there had to be over twenty. I don't remember what it tasted like, I just remember it being a good day at the movies and I wanted more.

Officer and a Gentleman - This was about the time the huge laser discs came out. Boy was that short lived. My best friend Barb's sister had a laser disc player and would tease us with clips of Richard Gere. She wouldn't let us watch the whole thing because of the language. Being sneaky, like all prepubescents, we waited until she was out and watched the whole thing numerous times until we knew the dialoque and all the dirty songs by heart. Today, if any one asks what my favourite ten movies are, it's in there. I've seen over 100 times. Seriously. And need to get another dose of it.

Childhood Films Where Removal was Necessary

Are you kidding? My mother would never remove me from anything that made me cry, scream or have nightmares. Good parenting skills there. I think my mother was born without the common sense gene. I don't know where I got it from. Osmosis from my teachers and babysitters maybe. The films that made me wail the most were: Ole Yeller, ET and Bambi (no child under 12 should be allowed to watch these films). The films that made me have nightmares: Exorcist, Amityville (the upside, I fell in love with James Brolin) and Nightmare on Elm Street (the upside, I fell in love with Johnny Depp).

Films that Defined My Teens

Pretty in Pink / Sixteen Candles- Every girl could relate to Molly Ringwald but who on earth couldn't or didn't fall in love with Andrew McCarthy and Michael Schoeffling. Director John Hughes films made a big mark on my teens.

The Karate Kid - Believe it or not, this film made me stand up for myself... and other people. It's probably the reason why I gave two bleeding noses before I made it to highschool. Don't worry, I've mended my ways. I go for the jugular now.

Films Seen Multiple Times at Theatres

I can't think of any. Money was tight growing up so I can't imagine paying to go to see the same show. Outside the theatre the movies I've seen the most are Officer and a Gentleman, Alien, Poltergeist, Robin Hood (Kevin Costner), Reservoir Dogs, 13th Warrior, Forrest Gump, Backdraft, Resident Evil, Erin Brockovich, Coal Miner's Daughter, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Hope Floats. They are movies I absolutely never get tired of seeing and can come in in the middle and still watch it and cry and laugh or get scared at the appropriately places.

First Date Film

Jeff took me to see Alien Nation on our first date back in 1988. Eek! It was an ok film. I know it had spotted aliens in it and it became a tv series afterwards but I don't remember the storyline. I was way too nervous. And considering how lost I get in my movies that is a big thing.

Nightmares from Films

I mentioned three above: Exorcist, Amityville and Nightmare on Elm Street. Others were: Ghoulies, Pet Semetary (especially the scene with the kid under the bed and the Achilles tendon - I'm ruined), Incubus, Bees, The Blob, The Brood (the bloody finger prints on the ballisters!), The Hills Have Eyes, Magic (I hate ventriloquist dummies). Quite a few of these aren't scary now. They are just stupid. But I wasn't old enough to BE watching them the first time.

Films that are Guilty Pleasures

I'm a sucker for a good Harlequin Romance movie (no I don't read the books). It's like being a deer caught in the headlights. I can't look away.

Last Film I Saw at the Theatre

We have satellite (some promotion we got with the Internet) so we don't go to the theatre that often. That and it is so bloody expensive. $11 per person. We've seen two recently because Jeff's parents gave us some gift certificates. Prince Caspian because I'm a Narnian nut and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull because I'm a Indie nut. We still have some coupons left and I really want to see M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening (I love his movies-all of 'em).

Favourite Film Else Seems to Know About

I'm going to guess, The Man from Snowy River with Tom Burlinson. I had such a crush on him. Cowboys on horses with Australian accents are sexy.

***
Topic Links
* More Blogging Memes

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Another Day, Another Lens

Two actually.

First up is a plus size shopping lens highlighting Etsy, a mediator between sellers and buyers of handmade goods. The second is a movie lens for The Hitcher starring Sean Bean. He's fabulous but the movie sucks.

***
Topic Links
* Plus Size Etsy
* The Hitcher

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Pet Peeves

I was over reading Poddy's My Pet Peeves - Things That Annoy Me lens and I couldn't believe how riled up I was by the end. I enjoyed the lens and pretty much agreed with almost everything he said. So I thought why not mention a few of my peeves in my blog. Lets go for 10. And if you are reading this, I tag you.
  1. People who leave their car running, park in front of the doors and run into a business when there is a parking space 10 - 15 feet away. And they usually ain't fat people.
  2. People who correct my email spelling mistakes. It's an email, not a website or essay. I mean if you are going to print it out and frame it then by all means let me know and I'll send you a better copy. Or worse, give me an English lesson on the difference between it's and its. I think at 38 I know the difference. It's a typo, let it go people. Do you email publishers to let them know about typos in their books?
  3. Burnt popcorn being pumped through movie theatres.
  4. People who chat up the cashiers at the grocery store when there is a huge lineup. Pay for your stuff and leave.
  5. Shiny computer screens.
  6. Shiny screens on debit machines.
  7. Products that change in size but are still the same price. I'd rather they stayed the same and went up in price. Like: tampons, sanitary napkins, toilet paper, paper towel.
  8. Friends who drop off the face of the planet and then say they left messages when you see them.
  9. People who assume that I'm going to have kids.
  10. Generalizations about fat people.
It actually felt good to get that all out. I highly recommend it.