Christmastime is Here

Every year during Christmas there is a long list of do's and don'ts. Among the don'ts are listening to Christmas Shoes and Feliz Navidad, watching the Jim Carey version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, eating candy canes (somehow I always find myself munching on one when I have no access to a sink to wash my face and hands--they are so sticky!), and the biggie is don't get too excited too early. If you're ready to open your gifts on December first, by the time the 25th rolls around, you'll be out of the holiday spirit steam. So pace yourself.

Among the do's are drinking egg nog, Christmas caroling (no matter how cheesy it is, to quote Buddy the elf: the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear), making cookies and traditional holiday treats, decorating the house, having an advent calendar, serving those in need, and watching only the best Christmas movies.

For an example of what I'm doing this year is my new Pandora Christmas station called Cool Yule radio. It's a mix of big band Christmas songs and Sufjan Steven's Christmas album. I could listen to this station for a while and be happy. Another way of keeping the holiday spirit is volunteering. My Marie sister is interning at Sub for Santa and I was able to help her with The Giving Tree. It's been great to see the generosity of other, I feel like that really helps the season. And last but not least, I have compiled a list of ten Christmas movies that should be watched every Christmas season. There are others I could add to the list, but this will keep you busy.

It's a Wonderful Life
This is my all-time favorite Christmas movie, and one of my favorites of all time. I grew up watching this film and never once shed a tear. I am not a crier. But recently, as in the last few years, every time I watch this film, I cry. It touches me and reminds me of the kindness that still exists in the world.




Holiday Inn
This is a fun one that my family watches every year. Good ol' Bing and Fred.

White Christmas
I love Danny Kaye. He is one of the funniest guys in cinema history. A lot of comic actors have Danny to thank.



How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The animated is so much better than the live-action. I absolutely hate it when they stretch a twenty minute story line into an hour and a half. Here's the song for you.

A Muppet Christmas Carol
The Muppets are great and this is another family favorite. If you haven't watched it, shame on you.



A Christmas Carol
A few years back, my family and I stumbled upon the 1999 Patrick Stewart version of A Christmas Carol. It's really well adapted and more entertaining than the older versions. My family reads this story every year and it still holds a lot of value to this day.



Elf
So funny. It's a new classic that I'll watch every year. At least once.



The Shop Around The Corner
This is the original version of You've Got Mail. It centers around Christmastime and Jimmy Stewart is always so much fun to watch.



A Christmas Story
Fortunately for us, TBS plays it non-stop on Christmas day. But just to highlight:



And last, but definitely not least
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a sucker for Peanuts. This movie is a family favorite as well, and it was and is rather bold for Linus to so simplistically state the reason for the season. Whenever I get hung up on the worldly aspect the Holiday, Linus puts me back on track.



That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

And so, that is all. I know my mom would have me add The Bishop's Wife, but I never could get into that movie. I hope you all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

His Girl Friday

So, I've slowly come to the realization that most people don't like old movies. I find this sad. I feel like old films are where it's at. They've got originality, something that is sorely lacking these days, and they're classic. There is no one today that is like Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Peter Lawry, or Irene Dunne. People try to compare, but it's useless--no one has the charm, the spark, that makes these actors light up on camera.

So here's a list of pros and cons for watching classic films. Pros: as I already said, they're classic and original, they're oftentimes funny, and have a happy ending. Instead of explicit content and language that seems to have run amok these days, old films have whats called innuendo. Meaning you have to use your brain to get it. This may be hard for some people, but give it a try. There is something so fresh and new to old movies that can't be beat. Cons: they tend to be a bit dramatic. But you have to understand that back then radio was the centerpiece of the home and had to convey meaning through sound instead of sight. People couldn't see someone in distress so they had to sound it out. Another con is some of them run a little long. I'm not asking you to start out with Ben Hur or anything, just an average lengthed film like the one I'm spotlighting today.

Ok. Now on to my spotlight. I think I'm gonna do this every once and awhile to remind everyone of the great shows that we've all forgotten. So this week it's His Girl Friday. It stars Cary Grant and Rosalind Russel. Its mainly about the newspaper industry and a divorcing couple too caught up in trying to get the best story out there to focus on their marriage.

As you're watching this, here are some cool factoids about the film. It was directed by Howard Hawks, who pioneered the screw-ball comedy. The average script for a 90 minute film is about 90 pages long. His Girl Friday is 180 pages and still only 90 minutes long. Which means that there is a lot of fast talking and a lot of people talking over each other, which adds to the comedy and drama. Mr. Hawks had Cary and Rosalind rehearse their scenes together and would only be satisfied if they were yelling at each other by the end of the scene. Rosalind would often end their rehearsals in tears.

You see that folks? You don't get cool stuff like that from Terminator. All you get from that movie is nerdy anecdotes of when the computer software system was on the fritz and the CG extras were naked! Oh, good times.

Check this movie out. It's worth your time and its a true Hollywood classic.

Magic

So I bought M83's new album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. And let me tell you, it's magical. I mean, remember The Never Ending Story? Remember the feeling you had watching it when you were little? When Atreyu was the bravest boy you've seen? When you felt the wind in you hair just like Bastian did when he was riding Falkor? When The Nothing was overcome and your imagination was able to run free without any inhibitions? Well, this is what this two-disc album has been for me. In a word, it's magical.

I know this sounds a bit over-the-top, but I feel this album throughout my whole body to its very core. And albums like this are a rare find. When I do find it, it seems that it's all that consumes my thoughts. It's all I can talk about. It's all I want to do. It's the kind of music that is meant not only to listen to, but absorb. It's magical.

So give it a listen. I hope you have a magical experience as well. And if you don't feel the magic, please don't tell me. It would break my heart.

I Get Chills Just Thinking About It

So music lately, this is what's been going on. Hope you enjoy!

Beirut-The Rip Tide


This is their new album and I am in love with it.
This is my favorite song on the album.
How can you not feel good listening to this?
P.S. I was right at the bottom of the screen in this video.
You can't see me, but I was.
Right.
There.

Matt and Kim-Sidewalks



I listen to this album with the windows rolled down and the volume turned up.
Block after block.

Ra ra riot-The Rhumb Line


I absolutely love this song.
It has movement and just a great pace and tune.
And a great message.
A little music lesson for you:
Wes Miles, the lead singer of Ra Ra Riot is the other half of
Discovery- LP


And I love this song.

Well, It Is Saturday

On Friday, some friends and I were discussing whether or not we were going to watch a movie on Saturday. I said "Well, it is Saturday." They looked at me rather confused until I pointed out the fact that I've gone to the theater every Saturday for the past month. Why stop now? So here's a review of the films I've watched recently.

Moneyball

I absolutely loved this movie. Its got good acting, a good script, an interesting storyline, and heart. I don't say that often--"It's got heart"--because mostly I think heart=cheese, but this movie is heart felt without making you squirm in your seat like the new Twilight movie trailer does. I've heard several critiques say that Moneyball is probably the best baseball film ever made. I agree. Go watch it. It's clean and funny and just great.

50/50

Funny. Heart felt (again). But so so good. I mean, I cried. I don't cry. I think its easy to relate to this film cause we've all had some kind of scary health-related experience in our lives. I love Seth Rogen in this film. He is a great friend. And again, great script, great acting, great storyline. It's a little explicit language-wise, but if that doesn't bug you then go for it!

I've noticed with these two films that the funny fat guys Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill are playing more of the straight guys. They're still friendly side-kicks, but not so what's the word...ridiculous? stupid? irreverent? Yes, that's it, irreverent. Just good guys. And way more likeable.

The Ides of March

I watched this one last night. It was way intense. But a very good insight to current politics. I've been thinking a lot about politics these days and how screwed up the system is and has been for quite a while. And I think one of the main points of the film is that things will continue to be this way as long as we let them keep happening. I feel like this film is supposed to be a wake up call to those who are living in a daydream or just don't pay attention to the way our government is run. This movie gets you thinking and hopefully gets you to wanna change what's going down. I'm not saying to go Occupy Wall Street or anything, but maybe be more active. Maybe vote this next election, write to your representative, or run for president.

All in all the movies I've seen the last few weeks are Oscar contenders in my mind. They're not dumb or atypical American feel-good movies. (I mean, Moneyball and 50/50 are feel good, but not like Eat, Pray, Love cheesy crappy crap.) I expect some acting, writing, and directing nominations to come out of these films. But we'll have to wait and see.