The Challenge

This year I proposed a challenge to myself.  The challenge is to see everything that plays at the movie theater where I work, the Chelsea.  To answer the obvious question: Of all the movies you see you mean you’re not all ready doing this?  The answer is no.  I average about two thirds.  

So now that we are half way through the year it’s time I check in and see how its going.  After six months I’m doing well.  I have successfully seen everything we’ve played, so far this year.

Such an undertaking comes with good and bad viewings.  Movies such as Le-Weekend and In Secret I really did not enjoy and would of past normally.  Flicks like The Railway Man, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Chef I would of seen without the challenge and was pleased with how much I enjoyed them.  That was to be expected.

  Then there are movies that I would of passed on for one reason or another that I’m glad I saw.  They are movies that I would of missed and now can not imagine not seeing them.  The Lunchbox tops that list.  I thought of it as another typical rom com and I was going to miss.  Good thing I didn’t because I loved the sophisticated charm of the movie.  As The Lunchbox tops the list of great surprises Locke is a not to distant second.  The whole concept sounded boring, a man driving on his car talking on his cell phone for ninety minutes.  If I wanted to see that I’d watch the rush hour reports on the news.  Locke played brilliantly, like a one man stage play, quietly building tension, a lot like the way the trojan horse did.  Omar was a breath taking movie that was robbed of the foreign film Oscar and as tough as it was to watch it’s clearly a twice or more see.  Those round out the top three but others include Obvious Child, The Immigrant, and the Ralph Fiennes film about Charles Dickens The Invisible Woman.

Six months are now in the rear view mirror and I’m half way down the highway of this challenge.  Only time will tell if I complete the self imposed challenge but I look forward to attempting to do so.  I end with saying please join me in my quest and see a movie every once and a while with me.  (This offer extends beyond the challenge and seeing movies at other theaters cause I love going to the movies and really love company when I go).

My 2014 mid year Ramble

It’s the dog days of summer with incredibly hot temperatures.  So as always I’ve been keeping cool at the movies, as I do year round.  As its mid June I like to pause to take note of what I think of the movies so far.  

the Nevermore Festival was this past February.  Of the films I saw Open Grave truly was incredible and it was awesome to see The Tingler with all the gimmicks included.

The comic book adaptations have been strong.  I love how Captain America: The Winter Soldier played beautifully as an espionage film as well as a hero film.  X-Men Days of Future Past was a lot of fun and raised above my concern about the film trying to bite off more then it could chew.  The Amazing Spiderman 2 was what I wanted it to be and that was a lot of fun.

The animation front this yearly is being led by two incredible movies.  First up is The Lego Movie which was fun and truly funny.  The second animated flick is How to Train Your Dragon 2.  This sequel surpasses its predecessor in every way.

I saw some excellent documentaries so far this year as well.  Tim’s Vermeer and Finding Vivian Maier were both thought provoking films that covered fascinating subjects.

The Lunchbox is clearly the best foreign film I’ve seen this year and one of the better ones in the past few years.  The film comes from India and is a must see stand out film of this year and any year.  

Under the Skin and Locke are some of the best indy films this year and both more then worth the price of admission to see. 

Time and time again I’ve said how disappointed I am with modern horror going for shock value with blood and guts for its scares.  Instead I prefer the scares to come from behind the characters or from the shadows of the film.  It’s why I remain a huge fan of last years The Conjuring and like wise am a huge fan of this years The Quiet Ones.

A Million Ways to Die in the West is one I need to see again on the big screen because it’s that funny.  I can’t tell you how many times I almost fell out of my chair laughing at the movie.  The Grand Budapest Hotel is another great comedy this year and truly shows Wes Anderson’s strengths as a filmmaker.

On the flip side there have been some awful movies.  The action film Brick Mansions, the comedies Ride Along and Le Weekend are just a few of the bad flicks that have been released this year.

With all that said I eagerly look forward to the cool nights of fall when the Oscar contenders tend to come out to play as well as enjoy the remaining summer spectacles. 

My Summer Movie Viewing List

Do you ever grow weary of the summer blockbusters? Some years I do but not often.  However there are films that help me to appreciate the firework show of blockbusters even more. Just like the Christmas season each summer, there are a few films I pull off the shelf, dust off, & rewatch with a cold beverage in hand.  

Jaws

The ultimate summer movie and not because it takes place at the beach.  The classic from 1975 is filled with mesmerizing suspense, classic one liners (‘You’re going to need a bigger boat’), and is always fun to watch.  It’s summer cinema at its best.

Roger Corman’s Piranha

I put the 1978 cult classic out of withdrawal from finishing up a Jaws viewing.  It’s fun and hokey which is a combination for a good time.

Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope

The first film released in the epic saga transports me to galaxy far far away and to the heat of battle between good & evil.  One can also never get enough Star Wars either. 

Monty Python & The Holy Grail

Always a hoot to watch and I look forward to watching, no matter what season.  Very few movies I can quote start to finish and this is the grand daddy of those films.

Air Force One

I always love a good action movie.  To see Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman do battle on the presidential plane is always riveting to me and I cheer each time at the end.

& finally

The Big Lebowski

The Coen Brothers work are movies I routinely look forward to.  This one is my personal favorite and if I can get a group together to have dinner and watch each summer I will.  Otherwise I’ll enjoy the movie by myself, regardless I look forward to seeing this one each year.

Questions? Concerns? Thoughts?

Ok then.  I need to get cracking on this list.