Movie time

I don't particularly like going to the theater and probably only go one time a year. I do however like movies and buy a fair amount of them. Most of the time I know nothing about the movie I am buying besides what the cover looks like. And you might not be able to judge a book by it's cover but you pretty much can sum up a movie by its. All the info you need is right there. They usually have the names of the top stars and a picture or graphic that displays the type of movie you would be watching. Put together the title with the art and who's in it and you can actually get a pretty good idea of what you're about to see. It won't tell you if you're going to like what you're about to watch, but you get an idea of what it is. If I'm really feeling like putting a lot of work into it I'll read the back. You can usually tell if the movie is going to be crap by how awesome they try to make it sound. Luckily for me I don't care if the movie is bad, I just like watching them regardless...well at least once. Anyway my plan is not fool proof but I've found it far more reliable than critics or even what others are saying. I still think two of the most over rated movies of all time are "Mulhullond Drive" and "Lost in Translation." "Lost in Translation" is pretty boring. And I understand that Bill Murry isn't suppose to be funny in it and that is the entire point, but what I don't understand is how this makes it good. Nothing happens...there's a lot silence and shots of him sitting on the couch looking sad and bored...it's pretty much like looking into a mirror as I watch the movie. I guess I don't think movies are good just because they are "artsy" in the same way I refuse to say that caviar is better than a hamburger...people will believe anything if they think it makes them a better person. "Mullhullond Drive" on the other hand makes no sense at all. It's not that it's confusing and I'm not clever enough to put it together...it's that it doesn't make sense. Sometimes I wonder if I'm wrong about these type of movies. May be it's that I'm an idiot and I only like movies that I understand. That these movies are made for me to understand and are wrapped in a coating of mystery so that I still feel smart for figuring it out. Or may be that is what movies are suppose to do...having a movie that has no plot or rhythm that you can follow is just bad film making.

That being said last night I watched "The Prestige" starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale. I bought it a long time ago and I remember liking it, but after last night I am going to have to say it's one of my favorites. It has a little twist at the end, which I think (no matter how corny) makes for a great movie. So I'm adding it to my favorites list. Here is my list, not in any order mind you, just a list of movies I really like:

1. The Fall
My favorite Movie I watched last year. The colors and sound are great and the little girl is adorable...not like that harlot in Little Miss Sunshine

2. The Terminal
Few would agree but it's pretty good. I like the idea of a man without a country having to live in the airport and even though the way he makes a living seems unrealistic it has a lot of charm...plus Tom Hanks is great.

3. O' Brother Where Art Thou?
I like mythology and I think using Homer's Odyssey in this way was really clever. Plus the songs are catchy.

4. Catch me if you can
I like a good caper movie. It's fun and smart and I could watch it multiple times.

5. Forrest Gump
Everybody likes an underdog hero even if he is fictitious. Again Tom Hanks is good and I just realized he's in a lot of the movies I really like...still it's a classic.

6. Cinderella man
Another underdog story.

7. Shawshank Redemption
Another great ending movie. First movie I can remember ever REALLY liking.

8. Misery
Cathy Bates is crazy good in this one. It's the oldest on my list but it really holds up.

9. The Prestige


So those are my favorite favorites