My Love of the Movies

Here I go again, my second Blog. I thought what would make more sense? Writing about something I really know about and really love, or just reading everybody else's blogs? So here I am again. Bear with me because it takes a minute to get started but once I get going, I can really go. hahahaha.

Movies are one of my favorite past times and I have seen some of the best movies in the past couple of months. Naturally, I was glued to my chair watching the Oscars since I had seen many of the nominated films.

I'll start with "Slumdog Millionaire", which did deserve the Best Picture award and got it! I don't want to spill all the beans about this movie because someone who might read this, may not have seen it yet. However, I am going to say that when I entered the theater to see this movie, I really wasn't sure what to expect. I was living in Atlanta when I saw this movie (I'm not back in Pittsburgh) and as was my custom, I went to the movies every Tuesday afternoon. That was senior discount day and for $6.00 I could escape from my every day routines and be transformed as a movie critic for AMC.

So anyway, I hurried and got seated as the movie had already started. Thank goodness I hadn't missed that much so I was able to get the full pleasure and enjoyment of this movie. I had no idea what living in Mumbai was like and my only recollection of India was that Gandhi was from there and there were millions of people there, mostly poor. So as the movie opened and I saw the image on the screen, it really wasn't that far from what I had heard and knew as a child. However, I never realized that there were hundreds of children in the slums and they were trying to survive in the best way they could. I know that I'm being kind of general here, but again, I'm not sure if it is fair to tell the entire story, so I'll just say that it was romantic, exciting, had much passion and I was nearly brought to tears in some scenes, but always riveted to the screen.

The young stars of this movie were really believable and I'm glad I watched it and didn't get up and leave as I saw one couple do not long after the movie started. Yes, it did cross my mind almost five minutes after I took my seat to leave, but something said, just wait. Watch a little more and see where this goes. I'm so glad I did. It was definitely well-worth it.

When the movie was over and I was leaving, I spotted a couple of ladies and I mentioned to them how much I enjoyed the movie and they said they thought it was very good as well. One also said she started to get up and leave but decided to watch a little more. I told her I had the same instinct but was glad that I too had waited.

So here is the synopsis in a nutshell. Three kids from the slums of a city in India, grow up in front of your eyes and two of them fall in love and their impossible dream is realized. That's all about that one.

I also saw "Gran Torino" with Clint Eastwood. Great movie and he was a senior version of his younger days when he would tell people, "Make My Day", alas Dirty Harry. was really very, very good and probably not entirely realistic, but it held my interest from the moment I met this grumpy character Clint portrayed. He literally has to clean up the neighborhood. That's all I better say about this one.

"Benjamin Button" was just so amazing with the entire idea of a movie (it was three hours long!) that took you from the beginning of life to the end of life and in reverse if you can imagine that. Brad Pitt is so fine and he was not a disappointment playing the starting role. All the characters deserve high marks because they made every frame of the movie a joy to watch. How the movie covered so many years from the 1930s or 1940s until nearly present day was phenomenal. You will understand if you see this movie. But it is very, very long but it had to be to develop the character of Benjamin Button. Go see it!

Now for probably the best picture I've seen in a few months or even a few years, "Taken" was it! If you are a parent, you will love the tenacity of the main character, Liam Neeson. He really loved his daughter and he saved her from a life of slavery and addiction because that is what the movie was all about. Again, I don't want to spoil it for you, but everyone should see it because the whole premise of this movie shows how innocent young women looking for fun and leaving their brains at home, can be duped or in this case, doped into a life of the unexpected. Just see this one. I promise you won't be disappointed and I put it up there with a James Bond movie because it is non-stop action and Liam doesn't play. He really doesn't do a lot of talking and reasoning. He just kills your butt and moves on to the next villain.

I also saw "The International" last week. Clive Owen is a good actor and this movie keeps you hooked from the moment the movie opens so I liked that. It is not as good as "Taken" was but like "Taken", it is going to rope you in early and you want to stay with it and see if all these beating and running around are worth it for our star, Clive. You see so many fantastic views of all these European countries and cities, that it makes sense to call it "The International".

Finally I went to the movies, just yesterday and saw Tyler Perry's new movie, "Madea Goes to Jail". If any of you have seen Madea and her host of movie roles, you are not going to want to miss this. I know that some folks say, "oh I don't like those silly kinds of movies with all that foolishness, etc.". Well let me say that I love comedy and Tyler Perry gives you that plus you always get an added bonus of a spiritual message. Now who in their right mind doesn't need to hear from the Lord!! This movie was really good and it has a lot of great stars and the acting is really good too. In fact, you are going to be surprised to see how great little Rudi is from the old Cosby Show is in this movie. Some of it is predictable, but that's o.k. because it is funny and will hold your interest. If you want to laugh and laugh and then laugh some more, hurry to see this movie. Tyler is getting a good reputation of not disappointing and there is something we can appreciate and applaud as Black people and recognize members of our own family in his productions. Again, go see it and judge for yourself. I love it! I have to say that I'm a real fan and I might suggest that you see "Daddy's Little Girl, The Family that Preys Together, Why Did I get Marry, Dairy of a Mad Black Woman and of course, Madea Goes to Jail". I mentioned these other ones because all of them have something very redeeming and inspirational. Now I don't know about you, but I always need to be inspired.

God bless and I hope you enjoyed this post. Remember, I am still trying to get into this writing down my thoughts for whomever might wish to read them. In the past, I wrote so many notes and emails on Black Planet that all my friends were encouraging me to write a book! It just isn't that easy, but I did feel the desire and urge to write about some of the movies I've seen lately.

Before I call it a rap, I must mention the 81st Oscar Show. Naturally since I love the movies and the movie stars, I had to say a few things.

I fell in love with movie stars when I was about seven or eight years old and I had my own scrapbook of all these stars that most of you have never even heard of because they were stars from the 40s and 50s. Some of them were Janet Leigh, Virginia Mayo, Rory Calhoun, Burt Lancaster, Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Peter Lori, Humphrey Bogart, Kirk Douglas and many, many more. My mom even named me after a movie star who was popular during the early 1940s. Her name was Gloria Jean. She did a lot of musicals and maybe that is why I love movies, the theater and acting so much.

Sorry, let me get back to the Oscar Show. I really love it and had to fight sleep trying to stay up until the very end, but I do it every year. This year was no exception and I loved Hugh Jackman. Although my favorite host will always be Billy Crystal. Hugh could dance and sing and he did a good job. The Oscars are just too darn long but they are worth watching when you've seen as many movies as I have this past year.

Goodbye for now and thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts.