Stepping Away from the Edge

Just a Little . . . Psycho!

I'm not a fan of today's "scary movies."  Even at Halloween.  Just don't like 'em.  I do, though, like Alfred Hitchcock movies!  (I can remember, as a girl, being scared out of my wits by The Birds.  Just terrified!)

Today, Carole has us thinking about our favorite Alfred Hitchcock films.  Before I get started on my list, enjoy this quickie-version of The Birds . . . in 1 minute, 40 seconds.

 

My Ten Favorite Alfred Hitchcock Films:

1. Rear Window
2. Vertigo
3. The Birds
4. Psycho
5. North by Northwest
   
6. Dial M for Murder
7. To Catch a Thief
8. Notorious
9. Spellbound
10. Rebecca

And how about YOU?  What's your favorite Alfred Hitchcock film?

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Altogether . . . An Altogether . . . A Most Remarkable. . .Place!

Do you remember this movie?

 

Another of my childhood favorites, for sure.  I've been enchanted with thoughts of Copenhagen since I was a little girl . . . as introduced to me by Danny Kaye.

The final port of our Scandinavian cruise . . . was Copenhagen. 

We landed in the evening.  Just in time. . . for a quick canal trip!

(I've decided that the best way to see a city. . . is from the water!)

The sun was already setting as we headed out in our little tour boat, but it takes a very long time for the sun to set at this time of year in Denmark, so we were able to enjoy a delightful introduction to the city.

There are so many unique structures in the Copenhagen skyline.  The spiral steeple of the Var Fresler Kirke, for example -- with spiral stairs climbing up the outside of the steeple.

And the dome of the beautiful Amalienborg Palace. . .

Or the modern and absolutely lovely Copenhagen Opera House.

We toured past the International Sand Sculpture Festival. . .

which was Most Awesome . . . but so hard to photograph from a moving boat!

It was peaceful and welcoming . . .

to be in among the boats along the canals of Copenhagen.

And, especially, when we spied the swans!

Which, of course, got me singing . . . there once was an Ugly Duckling. . .

What a lovely introduction. . .

to an altogether. . . an altogether. . . most remarkable city!

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Did you know that Copenhagen is one of the world's most environmentally friendly cities?

We saw evidence of this everywhere!

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Don't forget . . . leave a comment for a chance to win a prize!  Details here.

A Family Affair

This week for Ten on Tuesday, Carole has us . . . in stitches!  (But not knits and purls.)  This week, we're talking comedy. 

Laughter is best shared, I think, so I shared this topic with my family.  I asked each of them to share their favorite comedy movie.

Here's our list . . . a Family Composite . . . of the Ten Best Comedy Movies. . .

 

1. We'll start off with a classic from me . . . Young Frankenstein.
2. From Tom, we get Will Ferrell and company in . . . Old School.
3. Erin moves to action-comedy with . . . Kung Fu Hustle.
4. Erin's boyfriend, Keith, adds a little tongue-in-cheek, dark comedy with . . . Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
5. More Will Ferrell and slapstick comedy from Brian, with . . . Step Brothers.
6. My sister, Di, goes classic with . . . Monty Python and the Holy Grail,
7. While my brother-in-law, Kurt turns seasonal with . . . A Christmas Story.
8. My niece, Jes, brings some buddy-comedy with . . . Dumb and Dumber.
9. My Dad really does go "old school" with. . . Smokey and the Bandit,
10. And my Mom favors rom-coms like . . . Love, Actually.

And there you have it!  Humor . . . it's a Family Value!

What's YOUR favorite comedy?

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Hurray for Hollywood!

I watched the Oscars last Sunday night (the Red Carpet show, too!).  Usually, when I watch the Academy Awards, I fade in and out and get a bit bored.  But this year (thanks to my current state of mind, I'm pretty sure) I gave it my full attention.  I didn't even knit.  (Yeah.  Definitely my current state of mind.)  Tom watched with me.  (And that pretty much never happens.)

What was it about this year that captured our attention?  This week's Ten on Tuesday topic helps me figure that out . . . Here are Ten Thoughts on This Year's Oscars:

1. It was more fun because we were rooting for our favorites (Hugo and The Artist)!  We had actually seen several of the nominated movies this year, so we cared a little more about the outcomes.
2. I always love to see what everyone is wearing, and this year didn't disappoint!  (Tom, however, noted that there wasn't as much cleavage as in some years.)  Tim Gunn and Nina Garcia were fun commentators during the Red Carpet show.  I always like to hear their perspective on fashion.
3. Tom and I both liked seeing Octavia Spencer's reaction to winning the Best Supporting Actress award.  She was overwhelmed and thrilled -- and it seemed so genuine and "real."  (Although, as Tom pointed out, they are all . . . ACTORS. . . and it is HOLLYWOOD. . .)
4. And how fun was Meryl Streep's acceptance speech?  I laughed and laughed when she said. . . "whatever!"  You go, Meryl!
5. We both thought the pace of the show was much better than in past years.  Speeches were (for the most part) shorter and more to the point.  There were still some draggy points, but overall, it was better.
6. There were plenty of close-ups of George Clooney.  I never tire of seeing George.  (His girlfriend had a GREAT dress, don't you think?)
7. I liked the Cirque du Soleil performance.  I thought it was fun and amusing.  (Tom was in the bathroom.)
8. Much as I like Robert Downey, Jr. . . . I think his little "skit" for the documentary award presentations was totally useless.  Same with Emma Stone's star-struck bit.  Tedious.  (But her dress was GORGEOUS.)
9. I liked, however, the Christopher Guest (and company) "spot."
10. And, of course, both Tom and I loved seeing the adorable dog from The Artist up on the stage.  We loved the dog in the movie . . . loved seeing him sitting in his own seat at the Oscars. . . and then joining everyone up on stage.  What a star!

And, really.  That's what the Oscars are all about . . . seeing stars!

(Oh, and I guess this is Number 11.  Did anyone else think Angelina Jolie looked like she might perish from hunger?  Right there on the stage?  I think she had to stick her leg out like that for balance.  So she wouldn't collapse.)

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A Sort Of Love-Hate Relationship

I keep a running list of Books-I-Want-To-Read and Movies-I-Want-To-See.  There are hundreds of books titles on the book list . . . and just a handful of movies on the movies list.  (Lucky for me, there are 12 at present, so I have some breathing room for today's Ten on Tuesday list!)

You see, I have a sort of love-hate relationship with the movies.  I love the concept of Going to the Movies.  I have many happy memories of going-to-the-show with my friends as I was growing up.   I like the coomfort of the newer stadium-style movie theatres.  But.  I rarely go to the movies.  Instead. . . I wait.  I watch them on my own television in the comfort of my own family room.  (Usually with my knitting and a glass of wine.)

Anyway.  Back to my list!  This week's Ten on Tuesday topic is Ten Movies We'd Like to See Right Now.  Here goes:

1. The Artist (This one just sounds delightful.)
2. Moneyball (I have a thing for baseball movies.)
3. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Yeah.  I know.  I rarely watch movie versions of books-I-loved, but I've heard this one is quite good.  And.  Well.  Daniel Craig.)
4. My Week With Marilyn (Just want to watch Michelle Williams become Marilyn Monroe, which I've heard is pretty amazing.)
5. The Descendents (Ummmm.  George Clooney.)
6. The Ides of March (Yeah.  George again.)
7. Hugo (I came this close to seeing this one in an actual theatre. . . but ended up not.)
8. A Separation (This foreign film is getting great reviews.)
9. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Robert Downey, Jr.  And Jude Law.  'Nuff said.)
10. Haywire (I'm sort of interested in seeing why this is described as a "fast and spare thriller;" what does that mean, exactly?)

And there you have it!

How about YOU?  What movie do you want to see right now?

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Thunderbolt City!*

This week, Carole has us thinking about our Ten Favorite Romantic-Comedies.

I'm not much of a movie-goer or movie-watcher -- but I do have a few favorites.  And I'm not sure if there's really a clear "definition" for the genre "romantic-comedy"  -- but I do think that some of my favorites might fall into the rom-com category.

Before we get started - and to get us in the mood, let's watch one of my favorite movie lines (from the ever-adorable Hugh Grant):

 

Perfect, non?

And, now.  My Ten Favorite Romantic-Comedies, which may or may not technically fit into that movie genre -- but do tend to be about love, and are also comedies.

1. Amelie
2. High Fidelity
3. Four Weddings and a Funeral
4. Something's Gotta Give
5. Love, Actually
6. Bull Durham
7. Spanglish
8. When Harry Met Sally
9. Notting Hill
10. Groundhog Day

How about you?  What are your favorites?

*Can you name the movie with this quote?  And who says it?

 

 

Expelliarmus!

Harry Potter!  Why. . . you're all grown up! 

With this Friday's opening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2), the HP saga is coming to a close.  .  . and Carole has us thinking about the Awsome-ness of Harry Potter.

I remember when the first Harry Potter book was released.  Erin had just started fourth grade -- the perfect age for Harry!  She loved it -- she "grew up" along with Harry, Ron, and Hermione (the final installment of the book was released shortly after her high school graduation).

I've read each of the books (once), and I've seen a couple of the movies, so I'm qualified to create a list of ten awesome things.  But.  I decided to get a little help on this one -- from my family.  I figured it would be interesting to get the Harry Potter Perspective from a cross-section of ages --- AND a wide spectrum of Harry Potter Interest (spanning the range from . . . my sister, who will be FIRST in line to see the movie when it opens at 12:00am on July 15. . . to my son, who has never read a Harry Potter book and who has seen only a couple of movies -- and only because of "the most perfect female being on earth," Emma Watson).  So, I asked my family to help me come up with  Ten Awesome Things About Harry Potter (book or movie), and here's the result:

1 -- Magic.  From the spells to the gadgets, it was hands-down -- everyone loved the magic!  The Marauder's Map (me), the flying brooms (my Mom; my sister), time-turners (my sister), the Sorting Hat (my sister), the Cloak of Invisibility (Tom, who wants more than anything to don an Invisibility Cloak and skulk off to enjoy a Butter Beer!) -- the magic was just plain fun!

2 -- Classic story line.  Good triumphs over Evil; Love triumphs over Hate; choices matter more than abilities (my sister).  My child, with her liberal arts degree in English literature firmly in hand, explains the charm of Harry Potter this way:  "The fresh use of conventional fantasy tropes such as hero rescue (Harry and Ginny in Book 2), an arch nemesis (Voldemort), side kicks (Ron and Hermione), and the "destiny / chosen one" plot, to build a world that has enthralled so many readers of all ages and statuses (economic, social, political, etc)." (Erin)

3 -- The good guys really do win.  It was always exciting and a little bit scary (my Mom), but, in the end, we could depend on the kids in Gryffindor to win!  Why?  Well, because they had heart!  (Tom)  And not just regular "heart" -- but tenacious, gritty, loyal HEART; integrity; perserverance; muddy HEART. (Tom)  Ten points for Gryffindor!

4 -- Strong social justice messages.  I like to think that an entire generation (or more) has just had a huge lesson in the silliness of bigotry.  Muggle?  Half-blood?  Full-blood?  Doesn't that seem silly?  I'm hoping so.  I'm hoping that a whole lot of people have had a subtle lesson in prejudice and discrimination.  (Me)  My sister points out several other important lessons.  Like . . . the fact that you don't have to be related to be "family". . . or that there are so many strong female characters in the HP series:  Hermione Grainger, Ginny Weasley, Molly Weasley, Professor McGonagall, Bellatrix Lestrange, etc.  The world needs more "sheroes" in literature. (my sister)

5 -- Quidditch.  Oh, yeah.  How cool is Quidditch?  (me, my sister, my Mom, my Dad, Tom)   Tom's goal (after the Invisibility Cloak and the Butter Beer)?  "I want to be a seeker." 

6 -- Getting people READING.  (my sister)  This was huge!  It seemed everyone. . . everywhere. . . was reading Harry Potter.  (Well, except my son. . .)  My Dad never reads books -- but he couldn't wait to read Harry Potter.  (my Dad)

7 -- The movie adaptations, generally, did not disappoint.  The special effects (Quidditch, the flying, the creatures - and dragons(!), the moving photographs, EVERYthing magical) were fabulous (my Dad; my Mom).  The casting was superb -- from the guys in Diagon Alley (my Dad) to Helena Bonham Carter (bow down!) (Erin), the characters translated well from book to movie.  And more on the casting . . .  "Emma Watson." (Brian)  "I'll see your Emma Watson and raise you an Alan Rickman." (Keith)

8 -- Owls.  (Erin) 

9 -- Chocolate.  Harry Potter just confirmed our faith in chocolate as a cure-all --- the perfect antidote to those pesky dementors!  (my sister)

10 -- It wasn't just about destiny.  Sure, there was destiny -- and that lightning bolt scar, etc.  But, when it came right down to it, Harry made "good choices."  And I like that.  (Me)

 

On Ice

This evening, as the sun went down on a very, very cold day. . . I noticed a glittering in my front garden, right out my dining room window.

This little shurb (a Coppertina Ninebark) is playing host to some pretty impressive icicles.  (It lives right under a downspout from my eaves.)

Pretty, non?

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In other news -- We have a winner in my Guess-my-Ten-on-Tuesday-Movie-List Contest.  Drum roll. . . the winner is JessaLu, who correctly guessed 4 of the movies on my list! 

I think this was a lot harder than I imagined it would be. . . and probably reveals just how nerdy Tom and I are when it comes to movies. . . and dialogue.  (For us, it's all about the dialogue!)

Here are the answers to my Ten-on-Tuesday movie list:

1. "I don't know what to make of that.  I sure do don't." -- No Country for Old Men
2. "Jane. Honey. Are you trying to look unattractive?" -- American Beauty
3. "Sometimes, I guess there just aren't enough rocks." -- Forrest Gump
4. "I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies!" -- Gone With the Wind
5. "Women weaken legs!" -- Rocky
6. "At my signal, unleash hell." -- Gladiator
7. "I'm done with theatre.  The playhouse is for dreamers.  Look what the dream brought us." -- Shakespeare in Love
8. "Hello, Clarice." -- Silence of the Lambs
9. "Sorry I'm late.  I was taking a crap." -- The Sting
10. "Round up the usual suspects." -- Casablanca

Thanks for playing along!  And, JessaLu -- watch for your exciting prize package. . . headed your way soon!

 

A Word. . . is Worth a Thousand Pictures

This week, Ten on Tuesday takes you to The Oscars!  Yes, this week we'll be revealing our Ten Favorite Oscar Winning Movies.

Tom and I put our heads together on this list, and we decided to have a little fun with it.  Instead of listing the titles of our Ten Favorite Oscar Winning Movies . . . we decided to list a quote from each movie.  Play along -- and see how many of our favorite movies you can identify.  (A prize will be awarded to the commenter with the most correct answers.)

And so. . . here goes . . . Kym and Tom's Ten Favorite Oscar Winning Movies. . . in quotes:

 

 

 

 

1. "I don't know what to make of that.  I sure do don't."
2. "Jane. Honey. Are you trying to look unattractive?"
3. "Sometimes, I guess there just aren't enough rocks."
4. "I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies!"
5. "Women weaken legs!"
6. "At my signal, unleash hell."
7. "I'm done with theatre.  The playhouse is for dreamers.  Look what the dream brought us."
8. "Hello, Clarice."
9. "Sorry I'm late.  I was taking a crap."
10. "Round up the usual suspects."

How many of our favorite Oscar movies can you identify?

Lights! Camera! Holiday Action!

This week, Ten on Tuesday is all about our Ten Favorite Holiday Shows.  December isn't complete, for me, without a few of my favorite holiday movies.  My all-time favorite. . .

 

1.  Love Actually

Followed by. . .

 

2.  A Christmas Story

Another must-watch is. . .

 

3.  White Christmas

Rounding up the list. . .

4.  The Muppet's Christmas Carol

5.  The Holiday

6.  Miracle on 34th Street (the Natalie Wood version)

7.  The Santa Clause

8.  Home Alone

9.  The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (the animated version; I've never seen the movie)

10.  Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer

What's your favorite?