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Dec. 11th, 2017 06:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. One of the down-sides of getting older is I now appear to need reading glasses for everything.
2. Re-watched "Four Weddings and a Funeral Last Night" -- which I hadn't seen in years. (I forgot most of it. Charming 1990s flick, I think 1990s. Starring Hugh Grant and Andie McDowell (whose disappeared from films for the most part). Seen more of Kristin Scott Thomas, who played one of Grant's friends, who had a crush on him. She was more interesting in the movie than McDowell.)
Anyhow, while watching it, I pondered what were my favorite rom-coms. Rom-coms aka Romantic Comedies, are apparently harder to pull off than one might think, considering there's a lot of really bad ones, not to mention forgettable. Many of which starred either Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson, Mathew McConaghy, or Seth Groban -- do not put Seth Groban in a rom-com. Eww.)
Favorites in no particular order, off the top of my head. I'm not being held to this list, it's liable to change in a year, a month or an hours time.
*. His Girl Friday - starring Rosalind Russell and Clark Gable, a playful romp based on the play The Front Page. It's been redone a few times, but this is by far the best version. Editor attempts to lure his ex-wife and star reporter back to the biz and his arms, on the eve of her elopement/marriage to another man. He does it by waving a hard to resist investigative case under her nose. Much chaos ensues. It's more farce than romance, although the rom-com description applies.
*. There's Something About Mary Starring Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon and Cameron Diaz -- which feels more like the anti-rom com. Stiller plays a man in hot pursuit of his high school dream girl, but an insane number of obstacles litter his path to true love, including the woman's dog, and disabled brother.
*. When Harry Met Sally Nora Ephron's satiric take on romantic comedies, starring Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal and Carrie Fisher. Two college kids meet on a ride-share to NYC, and do not hit it off. Yet keep coming into contact with each other intermittently throughout the years, eventually becoming best friends, then lovers.
*. Gross Point Blank - John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan Ackryod and Joan Cusack -- a hitman goes to his high school reunion in order to hook up with the girl that he left in the lurch years earlier. Only one problem, his next target is her Dad.
*. Trainwreck - Amy Schumer and Bill Hader, a woman magazine writer who is terrified of comittment falls for a doctor. Much chaos ensues.
*. The Philadelphia Story Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart star in a story about a Philadelphia heiress played by Hepburn who is getting married, until he ex (Grant) shows up at the wedding threatening to break it up. Jimmy Stewart plays the reporter assigned to cover the wedding for the society pages, who invariably falls for Hepburn. Was adapted into a Cole Porter musical years later entitled High Society starring Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Grace Kelly.
*. Must Love Dogs John Cusack and Diane Lane, Diane Lane puts an odd in social media hunting a guy with the tag line, Must Love Dogs, up pops Cusack. There's a hilarious bit regarding condoms.
*. Four Weddings and a Funeral -- Hugh Grant, Andie McDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas -- cute independent film about well a group of friends who keep going to weddings, and their associated love lives.
*. Bridget Jones Diary - starring Renee Zewelliger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant. Based on the book of the same name, and possibly among the best adaptations of the book with the perfect cast.
* The Princess Bride starring Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon, Cary Elwes, Mandy Pantiken, Wallace Shawn, and Billy Crystal...William Goldman's satiric fairy tale romance.
There's also three controversial ones that I adore:
* Pretty Woman (Richard Gere and Julia Roberts),
* How to Steal a Million (Peter O'Toole and Audrey Hepburn)
* You Got Mail (Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan).
From the teen romantic comedies?
* Pretty in Pink (Molly Ringwald, James Spader, and Andrew (I forget his last name)),
* The Sure Thing (John Cusack),
* Clueless (Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd)
* Ten Things I Hate About You (Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger)
3. Lucifer - eh, mixed feelings about this episode. And I really wish they'd cast David Boreanze, James VanderBeek, Joshua Jackson, or Nathan Fillon instead. But that' s just me. Welling is not working for me. I honestly think his fandom is deeply stoned. Sort of what I think of the Twilight fandom...these people are clearly on something.
* Okay, I loved Lucifer at the end of this episode. He figures it out, because he sees the "Mark of Cain" and being the Devil, he'd know who Cain was and what Cain was doomed to do. Wander the Earth for eternity. Also Cain is technically the "First Sinner Man".
Of course I figured out Welling was the bad guy prior to that. Just not much further, and due to Welling's horrible acting, I wasn't entirely certain. He looks bored to me.
Anyhow, Ellis carried the day. His last scene, in which he stabs Pierce, or pierces Pierce (hee, get it?), then sits and calmly has a drink, patiently waiting for Cain to come to and pull out the knife, was hilarious.
Lucifer: "Ah yes, should have figured it out sooner. Sinnerman is a ridiculous nickname. But who else, would you be, doomed to walk the earth? The original Sinnerman. But Cain."
* Chloe ....got on my nerves in this episode, but then we aren't really in her point of view, and she keeps getting played. This round by Pierce and to be fair, she has no reason to trust Lucifer.
* I was worried Lucy would kill the guy and lose his wings. I want to see his wings again. I like his wings.
Show? Don't lose the Supernatural element, it's the reason I'm watching you. I've little interest in the procedural.
* More Maze - yay. I love Maze and Lucifer's interactions. Want more of that.
* Also Trixie, Charlotte, and Det Dan worked for me. I'm actually shipping Charlotte with Dan and with Ella. Tricia Heifer is nailing it. I love that actress, she's good in everything I've seen her in. Also adore Trixie.
* Hmmm, apparently I'm not the only one who finds Ella to be annoying at times, so does Pierce.
* Chloe can you be any more stupid. Why would Lucifer be in danger, if he's holding the blade to the guy's throat?
But I give her a pass. Lucifer hasn't exactly given her reason to trust him. Bright move on Lucifer's part to investigate the evidence for answers then confront Pierce alone.
Pierce -- you really shouldn't underestimate a fallen Angel who pre-existed you. This guy knew your parents.
* Next episode looks good. Wish I didn't have to wait for January.
Hmmm...if the Disney/Fox merger goes through, how will this effect shows like Lucifer?
4. Dark Phoenix -- read an article about the upcoming X-men flick "Dark Phoenix" which looks to be rather amazing. The writer is also directing it, and he's using it as his chance to fix what he did the wrong previously due to studio pressure. He's also the same guy who wrote Days of Future Past (the best X-men movie to date). This story is going back to the comics and adapting the source material -- it's sticking really close to it. In it, the X-men have become national heroes (as they were in the books at that time), Xavier gets big-headed and sends them to space for a rescue mission, but things go awry and a solar flare/mystic cosmic force invades Jean who saves them. She begins to wrestle with her own dark side and the X-men become split down the center. The script was so good, and the actors liked the fact that the writer was also directing, that Jennifer Lawrence agreed to reprise Mystique and everyone came back on board. Magneto is in Genosha running a place for displaced mutants. Jessica Chastain is in it as a shape-shifter who attempts to take advantage of Jean. Good cast and heavy emphasis on female characters. (They said it was the best filming experience for an X-men movie to date, calm, no chaos, no Bryan Singer, no Brett Ratner, Simon Kineberg -- the screenwriter is directing the film. YES! I prefer writers directing films.)
The Dark Phoenix story is how I got hooked on comics, and when I fell in love with the X-men. My favorite characters are in that story.
So excited for this movie -- which is premiering in November 2018.
This is the story I've been aching to see adapted for the big screen. (I could care less about the Avengers, never been a fan of the Avengers. But X-men Dark Phoenix? The inner college kid in me is jumping for joy. I was 18 when started reading comics.)
[Yes, I'm a geek, hardly a surprise.]
2. Re-watched "Four Weddings and a Funeral Last Night" -- which I hadn't seen in years. (I forgot most of it. Charming 1990s flick, I think 1990s. Starring Hugh Grant and Andie McDowell (whose disappeared from films for the most part). Seen more of Kristin Scott Thomas, who played one of Grant's friends, who had a crush on him. She was more interesting in the movie than McDowell.)
Anyhow, while watching it, I pondered what were my favorite rom-coms. Rom-coms aka Romantic Comedies, are apparently harder to pull off than one might think, considering there's a lot of really bad ones, not to mention forgettable. Many of which starred either Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson, Mathew McConaghy, or Seth Groban -- do not put Seth Groban in a rom-com. Eww.)
Favorites in no particular order, off the top of my head. I'm not being held to this list, it's liable to change in a year, a month or an hours time.
*. His Girl Friday - starring Rosalind Russell and Clark Gable, a playful romp based on the play The Front Page. It's been redone a few times, but this is by far the best version. Editor attempts to lure his ex-wife and star reporter back to the biz and his arms, on the eve of her elopement/marriage to another man. He does it by waving a hard to resist investigative case under her nose. Much chaos ensues. It's more farce than romance, although the rom-com description applies.
*. There's Something About Mary Starring Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon and Cameron Diaz -- which feels more like the anti-rom com. Stiller plays a man in hot pursuit of his high school dream girl, but an insane number of obstacles litter his path to true love, including the woman's dog, and disabled brother.
*. When Harry Met Sally Nora Ephron's satiric take on romantic comedies, starring Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal and Carrie Fisher. Two college kids meet on a ride-share to NYC, and do not hit it off. Yet keep coming into contact with each other intermittently throughout the years, eventually becoming best friends, then lovers.
*. Gross Point Blank - John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan Ackryod and Joan Cusack -- a hitman goes to his high school reunion in order to hook up with the girl that he left in the lurch years earlier. Only one problem, his next target is her Dad.
*. Trainwreck - Amy Schumer and Bill Hader, a woman magazine writer who is terrified of comittment falls for a doctor. Much chaos ensues.
*. The Philadelphia Story Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart star in a story about a Philadelphia heiress played by Hepburn who is getting married, until he ex (Grant) shows up at the wedding threatening to break it up. Jimmy Stewart plays the reporter assigned to cover the wedding for the society pages, who invariably falls for Hepburn. Was adapted into a Cole Porter musical years later entitled High Society starring Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Grace Kelly.
*. Must Love Dogs John Cusack and Diane Lane, Diane Lane puts an odd in social media hunting a guy with the tag line, Must Love Dogs, up pops Cusack. There's a hilarious bit regarding condoms.
*. Four Weddings and a Funeral -- Hugh Grant, Andie McDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas -- cute independent film about well a group of friends who keep going to weddings, and their associated love lives.
*. Bridget Jones Diary - starring Renee Zewelliger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant. Based on the book of the same name, and possibly among the best adaptations of the book with the perfect cast.
* The Princess Bride starring Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon, Cary Elwes, Mandy Pantiken, Wallace Shawn, and Billy Crystal...William Goldman's satiric fairy tale romance.
There's also three controversial ones that I adore:
* Pretty Woman (Richard Gere and Julia Roberts),
* How to Steal a Million (Peter O'Toole and Audrey Hepburn)
* You Got Mail (Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan).
From the teen romantic comedies?
* Pretty in Pink (Molly Ringwald, James Spader, and Andrew (I forget his last name)),
* The Sure Thing (John Cusack),
* Clueless (Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd)
* Ten Things I Hate About You (Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger)
3. Lucifer - eh, mixed feelings about this episode. And I really wish they'd cast David Boreanze, James VanderBeek, Joshua Jackson, or Nathan Fillon instead. But that' s just me. Welling is not working for me. I honestly think his fandom is deeply stoned. Sort of what I think of the Twilight fandom...these people are clearly on something.
* Okay, I loved Lucifer at the end of this episode. He figures it out, because he sees the "Mark of Cain" and being the Devil, he'd know who Cain was and what Cain was doomed to do. Wander the Earth for eternity. Also Cain is technically the "First Sinner Man".
Of course I figured out Welling was the bad guy prior to that. Just not much further, and due to Welling's horrible acting, I wasn't entirely certain. He looks bored to me.
Anyhow, Ellis carried the day. His last scene, in which he stabs Pierce, or pierces Pierce (hee, get it?), then sits and calmly has a drink, patiently waiting for Cain to come to and pull out the knife, was hilarious.
Lucifer: "Ah yes, should have figured it out sooner. Sinnerman is a ridiculous nickname. But who else, would you be, doomed to walk the earth? The original Sinnerman. But Cain."
* Chloe ....got on my nerves in this episode, but then we aren't really in her point of view, and she keeps getting played. This round by Pierce and to be fair, she has no reason to trust Lucifer.
* I was worried Lucy would kill the guy and lose his wings. I want to see his wings again. I like his wings.
Show? Don't lose the Supernatural element, it's the reason I'm watching you. I've little interest in the procedural.
* More Maze - yay. I love Maze and Lucifer's interactions. Want more of that.
* Also Trixie, Charlotte, and Det Dan worked for me. I'm actually shipping Charlotte with Dan and with Ella. Tricia Heifer is nailing it. I love that actress, she's good in everything I've seen her in. Also adore Trixie.
* Hmmm, apparently I'm not the only one who finds Ella to be annoying at times, so does Pierce.
* Chloe can you be any more stupid. Why would Lucifer be in danger, if he's holding the blade to the guy's throat?
But I give her a pass. Lucifer hasn't exactly given her reason to trust him. Bright move on Lucifer's part to investigate the evidence for answers then confront Pierce alone.
Pierce -- you really shouldn't underestimate a fallen Angel who pre-existed you. This guy knew your parents.
* Next episode looks good. Wish I didn't have to wait for January.
Hmmm...if the Disney/Fox merger goes through, how will this effect shows like Lucifer?
4. Dark Phoenix -- read an article about the upcoming X-men flick "Dark Phoenix" which looks to be rather amazing. The writer is also directing it, and he's using it as his chance to fix what he did the wrong previously due to studio pressure. He's also the same guy who wrote Days of Future Past (the best X-men movie to date). This story is going back to the comics and adapting the source material -- it's sticking really close to it. In it, the X-men have become national heroes (as they were in the books at that time), Xavier gets big-headed and sends them to space for a rescue mission, but things go awry and a solar flare/mystic cosmic force invades Jean who saves them. She begins to wrestle with her own dark side and the X-men become split down the center. The script was so good, and the actors liked the fact that the writer was also directing, that Jennifer Lawrence agreed to reprise Mystique and everyone came back on board. Magneto is in Genosha running a place for displaced mutants. Jessica Chastain is in it as a shape-shifter who attempts to take advantage of Jean. Good cast and heavy emphasis on female characters. (They said it was the best filming experience for an X-men movie to date, calm, no chaos, no Bryan Singer, no Brett Ratner, Simon Kineberg -- the screenwriter is directing the film. YES! I prefer writers directing films.)
The Dark Phoenix story is how I got hooked on comics, and when I fell in love with the X-men. My favorite characters are in that story.
So excited for this movie -- which is premiering in November 2018.
This is the story I've been aching to see adapted for the big screen. (I could care less about the Avengers, never been a fan of the Avengers. But X-men Dark Phoenix? The inner college kid in me is jumping for joy. I was 18 when started reading comics.)
[Yes, I'm a geek, hardly a surprise.]
no subject
Date: 2017-12-12 04:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-12-12 01:19 pm (UTC)Thinking much the same thing. She's carrying the movie and it is focusing on her. She said in the article that it is the most challenging and hardest role she's played to date.
no subject
Date: 2017-12-12 04:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-12-12 05:10 pm (UTC)Yep, I have a pair at work and two pairs at home. Also near-sighted (ie, require contacts to see distances), so it's just, ugh. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2017-12-12 07:01 pm (UTC)Your movie list makes me want to revisit a few older favorites. I liked Must Love Dogs but didn't think many people ever saw it (or no one I know talks about it much) and, of course, The Princess Bride is a classic! My friend recently watched You've Got Mail and told me it didn't hold up -- which is sad because I love Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in just about everything.
no subject
Date: 2017-12-12 08:28 pm (UTC)Haven't seen "You've Got Mail" recently...it's based on the overly adapted "Shop Around the Corner", which starred Jimmy Stewart and Carol Lombard. (Was even adapted into two musicals, the stage one, "She Loves Me" and the Judy Garland Film, whose name I forget.) I liked the Ryan/Hanks version -- but it is dated, but so is the original story...based on two people working in a shop and not realizing they are corresponding with one another at the same time via a dating service. The new version, sort of removed the two people working a shop approach, and made it about a guy trying to buy out a woman's book store and putting in a big one down the street -- which would drive her store out of business. During the hey day of the superbook stores like Barnes and Noble. So definitely dated in places, although other things should still resonate.
no subject
Date: 2017-12-13 09:31 pm (UTC)Another favorites are Desk Set with Hepburn and Tracy, How to Steal a Million and Clueless.
From the 21 centure I have a weird choice for a favorite movie - "What's your number?" with Chris Evans and Anna Faris. The actual plot is horrible, but the leads work so well together that I enjoy watching it anyway.