interstellar

Have you guys seen this movie? It is epic.

Picture cred.

It had been on my “to watch” list since it came out in 2014, we just never got around to seeing it in the theater. Then I saw that IMDb added it to the top 250 list, and there you have it, two birds – one stone! Also, seeing as the slogan for the movie was “THE END OF EARTH WILL NOT BE THE END OF US” I was pretty confident it would lift my spirits regarding the future of humanity. You know, that the only possible series of future events won’t inevitably lead to our extinction.

I ended up seeing Interstellar on an aircraft. Where I proceeded to hold onto my face for stability for the duration of the movie. My fellow passengers may or may not have thought I have anxiety. Which wouldn’t be completely untrue with regards to the emotional roller coaster I went on during the viewing.

Ladies and gentlemen, prior to take off please make sure your seat and tray table are in the upright position, that your seat belt is securely fastened and that all carry-on luggage is properly stowed. At this time, please feel free to take a firm grasp upon each side of your face and do not let go for the following 150 minutes.

Now, I’m no theoretical astrophysicist, but I’m pretty convinced everything in the movie could totally happen. Hence the need to clutch my face for two and a half hours. If you have not seen this move, please do so. It is worth your time.

30 before 30 update

I’d like to draw your attention to the fact that I’ve actually posted all seven “upcoming” posts I enticed you with this past summer. Now, this isn’t fully a completion of number 14 on my 30 before 30 list, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction!

In keeping with the title of this post I’d also like to draw your attention to a few more semi-recent posts off my 30 before 30 list. Evelina and I got married, and then traveled to Iceland to celebrate. I finally found the perfect lasagna recipe that Evelina enjoys as much as I do, and while in the kitchen I cooked up a couple things off of Eggton’s blog. I’ve watched a number of movies in continuing to top off my 25 before 25 list. Pintrest has even inspired me to do it myself.

Stay tuned for more, there’s a lot left to go before the big 3-0!

one flew over the cuckoo’s nest

I’ve tried to see these IMDb movies without much knowledge of them before hand. Some, like Schindler’s List, I had already seen scenes from in the best history class ever. But others, like this one, I had barely heard of. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was amazing. Definitely a bold amazing, it was so good. This IMDb list really hasn’t let me down.

I loved One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and I hope you will too (if you haven’t already seen it).

Without giving too much away, here are some things from the movie I truly hope are based on fact not fiction:

• Psych ward stretching
• Thoroughly tobacco blackened finger tips
• Basketball lessons
• Boating day trips

To top it off, three things that just made me smile about the movie, still no spoilers. The 1963 Yankee stadium reference & the lines “Cheswick c’mere quick!” and “Ahhhh, Juicy Fruit.” You just don’t see writing like that anymore.

And yes, if you’ve been keeping track, this is my final IMDb movie from my 25 before 25 list! I have officially completed number 10! Seeing this movie also means I’ve seen the top 20 movies on IMDb’s list. Feel free to congratulate me via virtual high five.

seven samurai

Have you seen this movie? It. Is. So. Awesome. I had never seen a movie actually in Japanese, with subtitles and everything. Man am I glad I started with this one. It’s from IMDb’s top 250 list that I’ve talked about before.

Here are my thoughts on the movie, of course without giving away any spoilers, because you guys gotta go see this one for yourselves!

• I had no idea all Japanese men bald in the exact same pattern. Apparently even very early in life.
• The farmers were sitting in the so-called third world squat – which is interesting because it’s discussed in the weight lifting world as the go to for form improvements. Those farmers could probably learn to squat a lot, and fast!
• It was very thoughtful of the sound editors to always play chirping birds during the daytime and hooting owls during the night-time – so the viewers wouldn’t get confused.
• When were muskets invented?

My favorite lines from the movie:

• Even bears come down from the mountains when they’re hungry.
• A true samurai won’t get hit.
• Won’t fall for that trick again, eh?

You may be wondering about that last quote, doesn’t seem particularly zen or samurai-like. I just thought it was hilarious that it was apparently Canadians who translated the Japanese. Eh?

Now, go watch. This movie was so good.

a resolutions update: follow up plan

Let’s get this post off and running by first calling attention to the fact that I have yet to share my 2015 New Year’s resolutions. Now that we’ve called attention to it, I’ll get back to that in a minute.

As I left you after my resolutions update in November, I was focusing on making a lasagna that Evelina likes as much as I do, and finishing my painting. I did make a lasagna. I did not paint a lasagna, or anything else for that matter.

First, let me tell you about the lasagna. Step one involved getting Evelina’s favorite meat sauce recipe. Ground beef, crushed tomatoes, yellow onion, salt & pepper. Not complex. I soaked my lasagna noodles in warm water with oil while making my sauce. I carefully layered sauce, noodle, sauce, noodle, sauce, noodle. Finishing with noodles on the top was strategic, as I coated the top layer with cheese. This top layer is then easily removed, because of Evelina’s distaste of cheese. Popped that bad boy in the oven, and waited for the complements.

The best I got, was that it wasn’t as bad as the last one. (Y’all remember my pastelon?) Thanks babe. I was then informed that Evelina’s mother’s meat sauce recipe is not in fact her favorite recipe. So the quest continues. I have one final plan, the plan to top all lasagna plans. Garfield would be impressed.

On to the painting:

This is the current state of my painting. So, yeah, painting is a generous term for this. But this leads me nicely into my New Year’s resolutions for this year. I’ll be continuing my tradition of carrying over my as-of-yet incomplete resolutions on to the upcoming year. Here you have them:

1. Do a hand stand push up
2. Paint a painting
3. Find a lasagna recipe Evelina enjoys as much as I do
4. Do 5 things off Pintrest successfully
5. Watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Seven Samurai

If you noticed that my “run a marathon” resolution was not carried over, kudos to you. It is still a long-term goal of mine, but in an attempt to be more realistic, I am not including it as a goal for 2015. Maybe 2017, 17 always has been my favorite number.

With one month of 2015 already behind us I’ll have to be sure to be particularly effective this year.

See you out there.

twelve angry men

It finally happened! I watched the movie!

It was seriously good! I understand how it landed so high on IMDBs top 250 list. We read the play in seventh grade, I enjoyed it then and I enjoyed the movie now. I haven’t actually watched many black and white movies (don’t worry it’s on the to-do list), so I was very pleased to enjoy this one so much.

Haven’t seen 12 Angry Men? Put it on the list!

ten. watch 10 films on imdb’s top 250 list

To specify, I wanted to watch 10 films I had not yet seen, from this fun list on IMDB’s webpage.

Sidebar: Does anyone use the word webpage anymore?

ANYWHO!

I got really close on this one. As of my latest update I had watched 6/10 of the movies on my list. Since then Evelina and I watched Schindler’s List, so that’s another step forward.

I was a little embarrassed to admit that I hadn’t seen this one. We had seen clips in history class, but I don’t believe that counts…If you haven’t seen it, Schindler’s list is a horribly wonderful movie. Comes highly recommended.

It does, unfortunately, leave this item incomplete. Evelina seems less than thrilled with the three remaining films, so if this item is to be completed looks like I’ll be going it alone.

Have you seen any of the remaining films? Which should I see first?

goodfellas

Welcome to the third and final installment of movies I watched with Ryan on his latest visit. (Note to self, come up with a better name.) Anyway, the first two installments are found here and here respectively.

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The last movie we watched (from the IMDB list) was Goodfellas. It was promptly followed by a debate on the merits and downfalls of all mafia movies in general, and which the best ones were, in our opinions. I’ll save you the details of that conversation. However, I will say that I really enjoyed this movie, and was fascinated to find out that it was actually a love movie in disguise. The pretty Irish-Italian boy falls in love with the nice Jewish girl. Classic. Goodfellas is even based on a true story, thus piquing my intrigue even more.

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picture found here

I took two things away from Goodfellas. First, I gotta get a guy to take care of my phone calls like Paulie. And second, never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut. I think those are two solid messages.

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As the credits rolled, I did however have a final question: Why can’t the mafia movies be all fun and games? Somebody always has to die. A few some bodies usually. I guess that’s just the name of the game.

the good, the bad and the ugly

WAH WAH WAAAAAAH

Now that that’s said and done, I’d like to welcome you to the second installment of movies I watched with Ryan on his visit! (First installment found here.)

picture found here

We watched the good, the bad, and the ugly. Much to Evelina’s chagrin. Apparently old Western’s are not her thing. And I can honestly not see why. This movie was clever, funny, amusing, and had lots of guns and blowing up things and plot turns and twists and things. Everything you need in a Western. Plus: WAH WAH WAAAAAH, played at least one million times. At least. I see no down sides.

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I’m here today to share with you what I have learned from this gripping Western:

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• People made some sweet movies in the ’60s.
• If you attach a donkey to a well/water pump someone has to ride it. Donkeys are not smart enough to walk in a circle without a little guidance.
• White teeth were very common in the Old West. Probably as common as it is in the New West.
• Wheelchairs were not common.
• Pink umbrellas are the appropriate sun protection – do not leave yours at home.
• Hide your gun in the bubbles – no one will expect it.

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If you haven’t seen it, you should. Unless you REALLY don’t like Westerns. Then I guess it’s fine to do the dishes or whatever.

the godfather: part ii

As you know, my brother was here to visit early this year. As wonderful and kind as my brother is, he was glad to help me complete some of my 25 before 25 goals. By watching movies with me. I know, what a good guy.

picture found here

The first of a number of movies we watched while Ryan was visiting was The Godfather 2. Evelina and I had just recently watched the first installment, and we were itching to see more of young Al Pacino. (Understandably.)

The Godfather 2 is an exceptional movie, and comes highly recommended. The things I learned from this movie, I feel, are applicable to other life situations, so I feel it is my duty to share what I have learned with you. (Spoiler alert – stop reading now if you have not seen the movie.)

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• If you beg to Don Ciccio he will shoot you – don’t beg
• You can get by in New York City only speaking Italian – if I were to learn Italian, I wouldn’t need to speak English in NYC!
• Vito Corleone never forgets – this may not be applicable outside of the world of The Godfather, but it begs repeating
• Keep your friends close and your enemies closer – this age-old adage clearly came from this movie – #wisdom

Luckily for us there’s an actual built in intermission in this movie. We had come prepared with lots of snacks and drinks beforehand, but the intermission was well received as high time for a bathroom break.

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Good times. Good movie watching fun times.