You should know I'm gonna be ALL UP IN THIS MOVIE. Can't wait. Love everyone in it. Comes out September 12th.
The 10 Sweaty, Summer Movies I Frequent
I will always be into lists. I keep them in my purse, around my house, on my laptop, on my phone - it's a sickness.
I also happen to enjoy theme movies when watched during their appropriate time-of-year. You know what I mean - scary movies in October, Christmas movies in December, high school movies in June and the following movies listed below in the summer months. Why these particular films? Well, most of them are on here 'cause they take place in the heat, but some are on here because of how much I was entertained by them when I binge-watched them on summer break when I was a kid out of school for the season.
Anyway, they're really just listed here on the off-chance that you're looking for something good to watch. (Oh! And on every single rainy day from the years 1993 to approximately 1999, I had to watch Clue. It was a must because it's the perfect movie to watch when it's raining and IT'S MAGICAL it's so good. Everyone who knew me during those years saw this movie.) List time!
1. The Seven Year Itch (1955)
Is it feminist to say LOOK AT THAT ASS? Yes, yes it is. Is the movie actually any good? I think it's all right - actually no, it's terrible. I've only seen it a few times and while I hate the storyline more than a smidge, I love watching her in it. I feel like it puts me in a bit of a trance, she's so lovely to look at. Her clothing, the way she moves. You think that it's stupid to hate this movie and still put it on the list? Well, what can I tell you. Take it up with consumer affairs.
2. Take That Waltz (2011)
Anything that Sarah Polley gets her hands on will be good. That should just be a known sentiment. It's hard to describe why I liked this movie so much, I've only seen it twice. I love the way it shows how grossly in love and embarrassingly unbearable a couple can be with one another. Also, the nudity was great. And how it touched a bit on the expectations of marriage and relationships - loved all that.
3. Some Like It Hot (1959)
I know, I know. I'm sorry that two of her movies are on here. This one made the list mainly because this was the first movie of hers I'd seen and I really loved the whole story. I feel like kids would really like this movie, am I wrong? I'm gonna make one of my nieces watch it and I'll update you.
4. 12 Angry Men (1957)
I know this looks boring. Or was it just me who thought that? I'd been putting off seeing this for YEARS and finally saw it last night. It inspired this post! Such a good movie! "At the beginning, the cameras are all positioned above eye level and mounted with wide-angle lenses to give the appearance of greater distance between the subjects and as the film progresses the cameras slip down to eye level. By the end of the film, nearly all of it is shot below eye level, in close-up and with telephoto lenses to increase the encroaching sense of claustrophobia." - IMDB - Is it just me or is that cool as hell? Such a great movie.
5. Stealing Beauty (1996)
I will always love this movie. It's about a 19 year old girl (Liv Tyler) who goes on a trip alone to Italy, hoping to lose her virginity. Ummmm, best synopsis ever? Or at least that's how it sounded to me (and still does?) when I first read the back cover at Rogers Video fifteen years ago. It still holds up over time. Also, nudity. I feel like teen girls are way more into nudity than teen boys. Just me?
6. Field of Dreams (1989)
"They should have stopped making movies after they made this movie. Nothing will ever be as good." - my dad, about Field of Dreams. Now even if I don't feel as strongly as he does, this movie is fantastic and beautiful and everything you could want in a movie. Am I overselling it? No way, man. If you haven't seen it yet? Yikes. Delete my number.
7. Little Children (2006)
There are so many instances in this movie that made me repeatedly think, "Ugh, that's so wrong," and yet I still purchased and still love watching it. I think it might have something to do with Kate Winslet finally being so unlikable in a movie. I love her when she's likable, but this side of her is just fun as hell to watch. Also, all the sex. OH! And the pedophilia storyline? Memorable as hell.
8. Now and Then (1995)
There's a moment in this movie where you can press pause and (for a split-second) see Devon Sawa's junk. I know this because I've done this many times. You do things like this when you're a kid. It blew my mind. He was such a babe in Casper so discovering a gem like this? C'mon. You're not gonna look? Get off your high horse. It grossed me out, but I still watched it endlessly.
9. The Sandlot (1993)
I always wished I could play sports well after watching movies like this one and Little Giants. I wasn't fast (in the daylight) and I wasn't tall, so I pretty much decided to stick with band when I was younger. That doesn't mean I couldn't enjoy movies like this one, though. And boy howdy, did I ever.
10. Stay Tuned (1992)
This is John Ritter's finest piece of work. I've seen it over a hundred times. It's about a man who watches too much television and then him and his wife get sucked into it and have to go through different kinds of (not regular, but hell-inspired versions of) shows to get out. It is amazing.
Well, that's the list. Don't care for it? That's weird. 'Cause they're all great. 'Except number one, remember.
The Cannonball Run
I can't give you specific reasons why I've always loved this movie so much. I saw it at a really young age, so that might have made it more enjoyable than it actually is in reality. I also remember the scene where some women get out of a ticket by showing a lot of cleavage, and that has stuck with me to this day - just the boldness of that. And Sammy Davis Jr.? C'mon. I always had a crush on that weird looking little man. He seemed like he would've been nice. (Burt Reynolds always seemed like he'd be an uber dick, so I barred him by any early fantasies.) Anyway, all of this reasoning is nonsense, so just watch. The whole movie's on YouTube (which is amazing and I love it when that happens).
Safety Not Guaranteed
No one seems to like this movie as much as I do and I'm not really sure why that is the case. Almost all of the people I've told to watch it (friends/family) didn't really care about it like I did. Maybe I shouldn't be starting with these facts to get you to want to watch it, but, well, I figured you should hear the truth. I swear I don't like it just 'cause the 'plass is in it. He's good and all, but the story is just so great. And the ending? Man. I can't tell you how warm it made feel. Fuck, it's a good movie.
The first time I heard about it was when I saw this poster.
Does that poster not make you want to see it? Was it just me?! Anyway, this was definitely my favourite movie that came out that year (I think it was 2012). Pretty sure it's on Netflix. I'll continued to be weirded out by everyone who watches it and doesn't have a good time.
The Paris Theatre in NYC
This is in my top three of favourite movie theatres still operating in the city. If you get a chance, definitely go see something here. They only have one screen, but every so often it'll be a good movie. And the curtain still opens and closes! It, obviously, doesn't have to - but it does! Which adds to the beauty, in my opinion.
The fact that there's balcony seating is what makes it so lovely and appealing. And with Central Park so close by, this is just a romantic day waiting to happen. Check here for listings.
Super Juice Me
To be fair, I haven't watched this yet (I'm literally about to press play), but c'mon - you know this is my kinda movie. And I'm posting it preemptively mainly because you can watch it for until the next week. Go watch!
If you go on their website, just type in your email and you'll be able to watch it for free until Monday May 5th. Also, if it actually sucks then I'll come back and delete this post. OR let you know just how good it is. JUICE!
(Thanks to Jenn for the heads up!)
16 Acres
I just watched this on Netflix and I thought it was really good. Not in an entertaining-good kind of way, but moreso in an I-didn't-know-any-of-this kind of way. And if you're like me and would watch anything 9/11 related (as I've stated before), then definitely check this out. It basically highlights the politics and drama surrounding the rebuilding of Ground Zero, and the 16 acres that now house 1WTC and the National September 11th Memorial and Museum. The trailer's above.
Also, this is what one of the proposed designs looked like, as shown in the film.
Is it just me or is that one of the most beautifully complex buildings you've ever seen? Man. Anyway, lots of stuff is covered in this movie - if you have any kind of interest in architecture or anything September 11th-related, then you'll really want to see this one.
Fed Up Documentary Trailer
If you want to get me really pumped up and excited to see your documentary, make sure it's about any of the following:
- 9/11
- Cults
- Serial killers
- American food
Do that and I'm YOURS. Can't wait to see this. Comes out May 9th.
Cheap Movie Days
Movies ain't cheap. Here's a guide on the cheapest times to go.
Regal Cinemas (get their free membership card, it's worth it)
- Offers an economy ticket for $10.50, which is only valid on any showtime before 4 pm, Monday through Thursday (except holidays.) Plus, the film must have been in release for at least 10 days. IMAX & RPX are excluded, too.
AMC Theatres (don't get their membership, it's $12/year)
- $8 tickets - on all movies, every day before 12pm.
Cineplex Entertainment (get their membership Scene card, it's definitely worth it)
- On Tuesdays, tickets are $6.50, which is nuts.
- And if you're a CAA member, you can get tickets for $9.83 (CDN) each when you buy them in advance of a movie at a CAA location. More about that here.
Bonus Tip: Use your student card whenever you can! I still do and it works.
The Lego Movie
I'm not calling this a review because I'm not going to give you specific, listed points as to why YOU SHOULD GO SEE THIS MOVIE.
I can't tell you what a good time it was. Really. I knew nothing about it beforehand (which is usually the best way to be pleasantly surprised by a good movie, I find) and it was fantastic and really funny at times. It's so easy to mess up a movie that's intended for kids these days, in my opinion, and this one was just great.
GO SEE!