It's time to just admit it. It's really difficult to tell you guys but I just really feel like I should be honest. It's not that bad really. Everyone does it. We're all addicts. So, welcome fellow addicts. Welcome to Bad Movies Anonymous . We are all guilty of loving awful movies. Don't even try to deny it.
I can hear you all denying it. I don't love bad movies. I would never be caught dead watching that movie. (Actually, I caught you. Fess up.) My friend/spouse/whoever made me watch that. I hated it. I don't own it on Blu-Ray. Yeah. Sure. I believe you. (I know someone who owns 'Xanadu' and that movie is B-A-D. But totally awesome.)
I'll tell you straight up that I proudly love some truly awful movies. I have no shame. I could tell you that in order to appreciate really good movies you have to see some gosh darn bad ones but that wouldn't be quite true. I honestly love bad movies. Why? They are so easy to make fun of and just relax when watching them. Bad movies are just enjoyable. And who says they are bad in the first place? Entertainment Weekly? ( I love that magazine but rarely agree with their reviews.) Working in a video store has given me a lot of perspective on people who rent gems like 'Life is Hot in Crack Town'. (Yep, that's a movie title. It's on my list of movies to watch.) Or why people watch every SyFy (Still hate the new abbreviation. Grrrr...) movie that they come out with. 'Birdemic' anyone?
The people who watch these movies are genuinely excited about them. And who am I to tell them that they are wasting their money. I love so many movies that most people sneer at. For example I can't go more than a week without watching 'Burlesque' and let me be the first to tell you that if you want some campy Cher/Christina action this movie delivers. 'Grease 2' is a classic in my book, not only for the stellar musical number "Let's Do It For Our Country" or "Reproduction" but for a sassy Michelle Pfeiffer singing that she needs a 'Cool Rider.' You haven't seen it because it would be sacrilege to the late great 'Grease,' I understand. But if you consider them as completely separate entities you can fully enjoy the awesomeness.
What about Sandra Bullock's supposed flop 'All About Steve?' While no where in league with 'The Blind Side' or 'The Proposal,' 'Steve' allows for a slow-building, sincere plot while engaging in insane antics that really delivers a fantastic message about just being yourself. I'm only a tiny bit ashamed to say that I own not only the CD but the DVD for 'American Mall' and 'Spectacular,' some cable channels attempt at 'High School Musical' fame. I'm sure I own way more "bad movies" than I can think of, but who cares? If it's entertaining, why let someone tell you differently?
So the lesson that is being learned today is that it is okay to embrace bad movies. Every movie is someones favorite movie. Some of your best memories can come from watching a truly horrendous film. Would you really miss out on those moments because someone told you it was 'a bad movie' ? I say, heck no. So, welcome to Bad Movies Anonymous. There's coffee and donuts after we're done.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
To The Boy Who Lived
I haven't written in a while, mostly because I knew I really wanted to dedicate a blog to the world wide phenomenon that is Harry Potter. But in reality, I just didn't want to say goodbye. I would be already to sit down and write about my rereading of all seven books but something would stop me. I thought, wait til after the movie. You can compare and contrast. And so I forgot. At the theater, I thought it would be a really great time to write about waiting in line and some fun memories. I just couldn't seem to sit down and say what this series really means to me, because if I did it would be mean that it was really and truly over.
My story of Harry Potter begins about 14 years ago. After reading the first three books quicker than Voldemort can say "Avada Kedavra", the first movie was coming out the day before my high school placement test in 2001. Aunt Nan came over and we had our first ever Harry Potter premiere party (soon to be the place to be when a new movie came out. Nobody throws a Potter Party then us.) and I still have the picture of us wearing our very own broken glasses. This led to waiting in line for seats and waiting in line for the following 4 books to come out.
The last book was amazing. People died and people came together and expressed their true feelings. Not really that different from most epic stories, I'll admit, but the way J.K. Rowling brought it all together made all the difference. I read the book in 5 hours ( Albeit I took breaks to prolong the ending. I remember pausing on the beginning of the battle, closing the cover and taking deep breaths because this was it. The end.) After it was over, we had three more movies to look forward to.
Before I tell you about my last two weeks, I want to stress a point I don't think most people care to take into consideration. The movies.... (Ready for this?) are not going to be as good as the books. Did I just blow your mind? I know, crazy sauce. The movies are a companion to the books. Do I still compare them? Of course. But they are meant to be taken as entertainment and to allow people who haven't or won't read the books to enjoy them. ( Why I don't think I will ever understand. If you still haven't read them, at least listen to them on tape.) The writers of the movies are going to change things, it's inevitable. Sometimes it's for the better, sometimes not. They have to take what's in print and translate it to the screen and put their own mark on it.
I have actually never read the books back-to-back. I've read them all at least 5 times, but never 1-7, making it my new goal to do so before the last movie came out. I was doing really well; the Tuesday prior to the movie I was on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which was not always my favorite but on rereading it this time I actually fell in love with it. I had my tickets (14 to be exact) for the midnight movie and my tickets for the 3 a.m. 3-D IMAX showing. Did you just read that right? Was I actually seeing it twice? Back to back? It gets better...
See, I don't like getting to movies late. I like to get there early. Well, seeing as this was the last Harry Potter movie I was convinced people would be there very, very, very, very early. So I needed to be there first. I got there at 5 a.m. Thursday morning. Yep, you read that correctly. I got there and the cleaning crew was finishing up. But, I was first! I pulled out my book and started reading in my car. Around 6 o'clock, the parking lot lights went off but by 6:30 the sun was coming up. I sat in my car til 9 when the theater opened up and went in and sat in my line.
You can call my crazy, others already have. I had nothing better to do that day then to dedicate it to Harry Potter. I met some great people and made it into the paper. If you have Facebook you can go see my video blog I did during my 17 and half hour wait til midnight, they are quite comical if you can imagine. As I sat in my seat, with the lights dimming, all I could think was this is the end.
Did I like it? Absolutely. I loved it. It might be one of my favorite movies. Did they change things around and add some new stuff. Of course. Doesn't really bother me. The movies have always been there to be companions to the books but these last three movies have allowed them to stand alone from the books too. Director David Yates deserves most of the credit for this as do the very talented cast. Did I cry? Duh. As soon as Professor McGonagall came on screen and the battle truly began, there were tears. I did cry harder the second time but that might have something to do with exhaustion.
I saw the movie again yesterday for the third time and it just keeps getting better. You notice new things, are able to actually hear some of the quieter lines, and just really able to enjoy the movie. It was funny but not as funny as others in the past. Some people say that the humor diminished the drama but in real life there are funny moments during devastating events. Also, it's a movie people. The final battle sequence is different than in the books but honestly it doesn't bother me. I was able to say goodbye and still love the movies and books equally.
Saying goodbye to the actors who brought life to our characters was harder than I thought. I won't say who dies but the sniffling and sobbing heard in the theater tells me that I wasn't the only one devastated all over again. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint will always be Harry, Hermione, and Ron to me.
Is this really goodbye? Of course not. But in a way it is a goodbye to my childhood. I do know that I will always be a kid at heart so I'm not completely saying goodbye. It's just hard to know that there will never be more. But in a way, we can always go back....
"... so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." J.K. Rowling
My story of Harry Potter begins about 14 years ago. After reading the first three books quicker than Voldemort can say "Avada Kedavra", the first movie was coming out the day before my high school placement test in 2001. Aunt Nan came over and we had our first ever Harry Potter premiere party (soon to be the place to be when a new movie came out. Nobody throws a Potter Party then us.) and I still have the picture of us wearing our very own broken glasses. This led to waiting in line for seats and waiting in line for the following 4 books to come out.
The last book was amazing. People died and people came together and expressed their true feelings. Not really that different from most epic stories, I'll admit, but the way J.K. Rowling brought it all together made all the difference. I read the book in 5 hours ( Albeit I took breaks to prolong the ending. I remember pausing on the beginning of the battle, closing the cover and taking deep breaths because this was it. The end.) After it was over, we had three more movies to look forward to.
Before I tell you about my last two weeks, I want to stress a point I don't think most people care to take into consideration. The movies.... (Ready for this?) are not going to be as good as the books. Did I just blow your mind? I know, crazy sauce. The movies are a companion to the books. Do I still compare them? Of course. But they are meant to be taken as entertainment and to allow people who haven't or won't read the books to enjoy them. ( Why I don't think I will ever understand. If you still haven't read them, at least listen to them on tape.) The writers of the movies are going to change things, it's inevitable. Sometimes it's for the better, sometimes not. They have to take what's in print and translate it to the screen and put their own mark on it.
I have actually never read the books back-to-back. I've read them all at least 5 times, but never 1-7, making it my new goal to do so before the last movie came out. I was doing really well; the Tuesday prior to the movie I was on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which was not always my favorite but on rereading it this time I actually fell in love with it. I had my tickets (14 to be exact) for the midnight movie and my tickets for the 3 a.m. 3-D IMAX showing. Did you just read that right? Was I actually seeing it twice? Back to back? It gets better...
See, I don't like getting to movies late. I like to get there early. Well, seeing as this was the last Harry Potter movie I was convinced people would be there very, very, very, very early. So I needed to be there first. I got there at 5 a.m. Thursday morning. Yep, you read that correctly. I got there and the cleaning crew was finishing up. But, I was first! I pulled out my book and started reading in my car. Around 6 o'clock, the parking lot lights went off but by 6:30 the sun was coming up. I sat in my car til 9 when the theater opened up and went in and sat in my line.
You can call my crazy, others already have. I had nothing better to do that day then to dedicate it to Harry Potter. I met some great people and made it into the paper. If you have Facebook you can go see my video blog I did during my 17 and half hour wait til midnight, they are quite comical if you can imagine. As I sat in my seat, with the lights dimming, all I could think was this is the end.
Did I like it? Absolutely. I loved it. It might be one of my favorite movies. Did they change things around and add some new stuff. Of course. Doesn't really bother me. The movies have always been there to be companions to the books but these last three movies have allowed them to stand alone from the books too. Director David Yates deserves most of the credit for this as do the very talented cast. Did I cry? Duh. As soon as Professor McGonagall came on screen and the battle truly began, there were tears. I did cry harder the second time but that might have something to do with exhaustion.
I saw the movie again yesterday for the third time and it just keeps getting better. You notice new things, are able to actually hear some of the quieter lines, and just really able to enjoy the movie. It was funny but not as funny as others in the past. Some people say that the humor diminished the drama but in real life there are funny moments during devastating events. Also, it's a movie people. The final battle sequence is different than in the books but honestly it doesn't bother me. I was able to say goodbye and still love the movies and books equally.
Saying goodbye to the actors who brought life to our characters was harder than I thought. I won't say who dies but the sniffling and sobbing heard in the theater tells me that I wasn't the only one devastated all over again. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint will always be Harry, Hermione, and Ron to me.
Is this really goodbye? Of course not. But in a way it is a goodbye to my childhood. I do know that I will always be a kid at heart so I'm not completely saying goodbye. It's just hard to know that there will never be more. But in a way, we can always go back....
"... so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." J.K. Rowling
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