The Movie Deadly Dozen Blogfest

Mr. Alex J Cavanaugh, author, is hosting a blogfest today, the Movie Deadly Dozen blogfest, where you round up twelve of your favorite films and gush.

Since that sounded fun, I signed up.

Let me tell you, it was super hard to narrow down my list to 12. I tried to stick to movies that were maybe a bit more obscure, just to zazz things up, though that's certainly not the case for all of the movies.

Here we go! (in no particular order)

Sunshine

Synopsis - a team of astronauts are sent on a mission to restart our dying sun. Along the way, they realize an unknown person is hiding on the ship with them

I love this movie. I guess it would be classified as space horror, since it does have quite a few intense moments towards the end. It's hands down one of my most favorite sci-fi movies. The astronauts are all completely believable. These aren't miners sent into space, but people with multiple PhDs.
It has a great cast, including Michelle Yeoh, Chris Evans and Cillian Murphy.
This movie will make you appreciate the sun like you never have before.


Tombstone






Synopsis - A successful lawman's plans to retire anonymously in Tombstone, Arizona, are disrupted by the kind of outlaws he was famous for eliminating

I think most everyone can agree that this movie is straight up awesome. Even if you don't like westerns (and why wouldn't you?!) this movie is excellent.
Kurt Russel, Bill Paxton and Sam Elliott round out the fantastic cast. And this is arguably Val Kilmer's best role (though Madmartigan is awesomesauce). I don't know anyone who doesn't love this movie


Whale Rider






Synopsis - a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize

Have you seen this movie?
If you haven't, you need to rectify that immediately. For reals. Go watch it right now.
This movie is one of my all time favorites and totally deserves all the acclaim it received. It will probably make you cry, but by the end you'll be happy and it will most likely be one of your favorites too. When I look back on my list of movies, this is the one that makes me gasp because I love it so much.


The Royal Tenebaums





Synopsis - An estranged family of former child prodigies reunites when one of their member announces he has a terminal illness.

This is one of those movies that you have to watch 2-3 times to really get a full appreciation for it. I find this movie hilarious and will watch it any time I see it on TV. Also it's a touch bittersweet and that's always a plus for me.
It has a killer cast, including, but not limited to, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Gene Hackman, Luke Wilson, Gwenyth Paltrow and Bill Murray and is narrated by Alec Baldwin.


Love Actually





Synopsis - Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.

This is, in my opinion, the best Christmas Movie Ever. Period. I don't know anyone who isn't ridiculously happy after watching this movie. Combined with a great soundtrack and an amazing cast including Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth and Liam Neeson, there's something for everyone in this movie.
It's pretty much a Christmas staple in our house.

Lagaan

Synopsis - The people of a small village in Victorian India stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers...

I don't think I can properly convey how much I love this movie. It is excellent. It's another movie on my top 5 list. I think everyone should watch this movie.
It's a mix between a sports movie, a musical and an underdog struggle. Also it will make you want to play cricket.
The villain is easy to hate, the hero is adorable and the action so fun that by the end you'll be on the edge of your seat.
Even if you've never seen a single bollywood film (and this was my first) and find the music a little strange, by the end you may want the soundtrack.
I cannot recommend this movie enough.



Spirited Away





Synopsis - In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and monsters where she is forced to work at bathhouse for these creatures

All of Miyazaki's films are excellent, but for me the top two are always Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. My favorite of these two fluctuate, but typically Spirited Away edges out in front for it's fun plot line and the touch of unheimlich. Also I could watch Sen work in the bathhouse all day.
I pretty much always recommend any of Miyazaki's films for anyone who is looking to get into anime.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles





Synopsis - A quartet of humanoid turtles trained by their mentor in ninjutsu must learn to pull together in order to face the menace of Shredder and the Foot Clan.

This movie epitomizes what was awesome about the early 90s. Still trying to hang onto the 80s, yet trying to break away. I remember seeing this movie on opening night when I was in the 3rd grade. We watch this movie every couple of months in our house. It's that awesome.
Also this movie will solidify my love for Elias Koteas and Casey Jones in general and contains brilliant dialogue such as:

"Cricket? You gotta know what a crumpet is, to understand Cricket."
"I'll show you. See that? 12 runs."

ahh, good times


28 Days Later



WARNING - TRAILER CONTAINS FULL FRONTAL MALE NUDITY



Synopsis - Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.

This is my all time favorite Zombie movie. I know many purists say it doesn't count because the infected aren't actually reanimated dead, but I don't care. It's also one of my top 5 fav movies of all time. I really enjoy the "Who is the monster and who is the man" theme and this movie has that in spades. This is also the movie that more or less began Cillian Murphy's career (yay!).
Obviously this a a Danny Boyle horror film so it is chock full of blood, gore and extreme violence (just the way I like it) but this movie is not for the faint of heart. But if that's not an issue for you and you haven't seen this movie, check it out.


Poltergeist





Synopsis - a little girl is kidnapped by the ghosts that haunt her family's home

When people ask what movie I think is the scariest, I always answer Poltergeist. Mostly because this is the scariest movie we used to watch growing up (though my parents did take the time to fast forward through the part where the guy rips his face off. At least until we were older). Clowns strangling children under the bed? Scary. Ghosts walked down the staircase? Hella scary. Little girl getting sucked into closet to then vanish? Effing scary.
The nerd part of me wants to point out that this movie is less about a poltergeist and more about a haunting, but that's beside the point. When I watch the Family Guy Poltergeist homage episode, I get freaked out because they use the original Poltergeist soundtrack.
I need to get this movie on Blu-ray or DVD.

The Last Unicorn






Synopsis - A brave unicorn and a magician fight an evil king who is obsessed with attempting to capture the world's unicorns.

We loved this movie growing up and I still love it now. It's one of those movies that changes as you get older so your appreciation deepens. Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow and Christopher Lee all voice act in this movie and though I LOVE IT, I would say it's not really appropriate for very young children due to some scary scenes including:
The Red Bull, creepy drunken skeleton and tree nudity.
Also, the soundtrack by America? Awesome.



Bugsy Malone





Synopsis - New York, 1929, a war rages between two rival gangsters, Fat Sam and Dandy Dan. Dan is in possession of a new and deadly weapon, the dreaded ‘splurge gun’.

This is your average 20's gangster movie. Except the gangsters are children. And instead of bullets, they throw pies. Also, it's a musical.
We grew up on this film in my house. To this day we still sing the songs when the mood strikes us. This is a movie you can watch with your children, they'll love it. But it's also a movie you can appreciate as an adult.
Both Scott Baio and Jodie Foster star, though they're probably around 10-12 years old.

I mean, what's not to love about a movie who's theme is:

You give a little love and it all comes back to you?

Nothing, that's what.

Friday Fun Words

Hey everyone! How's it going? I hope the weather has been nice for you.

Right now we have a cage full of baby guinea pigs and let me tell you, I want to eat them soooo bad. Even George wants to get them in his mouth.

One time, a few years ago, I managed to jump from a chair and landed in a guinea pig cage. The one moment of awesomeness was taken away when Mommy scooped me out of the cage. I just barely had a moment to look at the pigs, right in their piggy eyes.



Anyway, onto the words!

Swile - when you swipe a smile.



Tiesse - a woman who ties things professionally



Uvuless - when you're missing a uvula



Wamaduey - an exclamation, used exclusively when you punch someone right in the gut




Simonods - when Simon drinks a lot of vodka and begins to agree to things too readily, resulting in "bobble head" syndrome




Fragnin - a clan of ninjas who believe firmly in the study of fragrance. You'd be amazed how many different kind of smells can kill a person. And since they're ninjas, you never see them coming (though I'd say you should run and hide if you ever smell cinnamon, but that's just silly. You can't escape from ninjas)





And that's it ape-friends! Have a nice weekend!

Friday Fun Words

Yvie here right on schedule to bring you new words to use in your daily chats and conversations.

The weather here has taken a turn back to winter. We didn't have any snow in March or April, which is unusual, but now we may get some in May.

What the heck is up with that?

Needless to say, I will not be sunbathing today.




Onto the words!


Rehamp - when you re-use your clothes hamper

Gobid - when you, erm, go bid on something...

Pantsh - pants for drunks



Ninglati - glitterati ninjas

surprisingly, nothing shows up when you googs "ninja" and "glitter" together...

Coltrill - Coltrane for birds

Prearver - Preacher Preview

why isn't this a movie yet?

Pessnod - a pessimistic nod


And that is all for this week ape-friends!
I hope you have a snow free weekend!

In Which I Reveal Further Prizes

I want to thank everyone who took the time out of their schedules to participate in my 100 Followers Writing Contests. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did.

I received a total of 11 stories (12 if you count a fake-ish one Twin submitted (more on that later)) which was a great number!

Out of the 6 prompts, the favorites seemed to be the diary after the storm and smelling fear. For those who are curious, I most likely would have attempted the inventor one and written a steampunk short. Or perhaps the "It keeps getting worse" prompt.

Here are the stats (since Christi used all of the prompts, I'm not counting her in the numbers):

• After 3 weeks, a lost dog returns home to its master carrying an unidentifiable bone in its mouth
  I received 1 entry for this prompt
  
  


• After waking from a coma, a woman discovers she can smell fear
  I received 3 entries with this prompt
  
  


• When a crackpot inventor is killed by one of his contraptions his brother - also an inventor - finds himself compelled to finish the work
  2 entries used this prompt
  
  


• A man discovers a large sum of money in his wallet and can't remember where it came from
  1 entry for this prompt
  
  


• Use the quote "I pray every day that it will stop, but it keeps getting worse."
  no one used this prompt, except Twin with her fake-ish entry
  
  


• After a violent thunderstorm a man discovers a rain-soaked diary among the debris in his yard
  3 entries used this prompt
  

The majority of the entries had exactly 749 words. It was kind of creepy that way.

As I stated above, Twin snuck in her own entry. It had pictures and was about her love of Ninjas.


It contained some beautiful writing, such as this chunk: "I pray every day that it'll stop but it just keeps getting worse. My desire to be a ninja, that is. I mean, check this shit out:"
Followed by these pictures:





Good times, but she will not be winning a prize.

However the rest of the entrants will!

Everyone who participated will receive a copy of Hooked! Which may possibly be the best book on writing I've read in years.

Onto the remaining entries!


Piedmont Writer wrote a piece called The Tornado where a man finds his wife's diary after a storm. This was a sad and touching piece and I loved the line "Now he could see he never gave her the one thing that could".

Courtney from Southern Princess also used the diary in the storm prompt to write a haunting story about immortality and desire. It had a fantastic hook in it's opening line: "Dillon ignores his immortality".

Achinghope was the final entry in the diary in the storm prompt and her story Debris revolved around the ghosts our actions leave behind. It contained this gem of description: "The cloth was wet and faded blue, felt like moldy bread under his fingertips."

Janel's story Miracle Pill was one of the few that used the contraption that killed his brother prompt. A story about a miracle diet pill, one of my favorite lines was "Their mother loved to show strangers 40-year old pictures of her chubby-cheeked cherubs."

Joan Crawford (who doesn't even consider herself a real writer, btw) wrote a fantastic piece about a woman who becomes addicted to smelling the fear of others. Fav line: "She'd gotten herself in trouble, loved a man with ash for a heart". Loved. This. Piece. (also Joan, if you don't want the writing book, I'd be happy to send you an amazon gift card instead. Just let me know)

Susan Fields also used the prompt of smelling fear to tell a story about familial love. Oh, and murder. I loved this description: "All had the sickly sweet smell of decaying fruit".


Please everyone email me your addresses so I can send you your prize.


I want to stress again that for many of these entries it was a very, very, very close call and that everyone did a MARVELOUS job.



Thanks everyone who participated and Yvie will be in tomorrow for our usual Friday Fun Words.