Wednesday, October 19, 2011

My Top 10 Favorite Moments in Movies

First I have to say sorry that the videos aren't embedded in the text, that there are just links to them. I couldn't figure out how to do it the other way. This is probably why I shouldn't blog.

Inspired by a fellow tweeter, I decided to do my top 10 moments in movies that I love. This was difficult for me for a few reasons. One, I'm a Libra and we're known to be indecisive. Two, along these same lines, my top ten can vary from day to day. For instance, if you asked me what my top ten favorite songs are, today it would be one list, tomorrow another. There might be overlapping songs but as with most people things change based on my mood and other factors. So it took me a bit of time to think about movies I love, there are many, and then more time to think about the scenes in the movies that are my favorite. That's not to say that this list won't change, but for the moment I think this is pretty much it. Don't ask me tomorrow though.

I also decided to try to not make it my Top 10 Favorite Romantic Movie Moments, that was tough because I am a super girly, girl and I love so called chick flicks. I did put a few in, but only a few.

So here goes, in no particular order, well maybe a little order......

10. Arsenic and Old Lace. The scene where Mortimer finds out.

I love old movies and actors. I think I love black and white films more than the ones from today. That being said, one of my favorite actors of all time is Cary Grant, and this is definitely one of my favorite movies of his.

For me it was so hard to choose an exact scene from that movie that I love more than another, since I think the whole movie is great. If pressed, I’d have to choose as I said, the moment where Mortimer finds out that his sweet little aunties have been killing unsuspecting men with poisoned wine. The look on his face when he accidentally finds the body in the window seat, and the look he has when it dawns on him that isn't an accident, but that his aunts are doing this on purpose is priceless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy4BRNRwgo0


9. Harvey. The scene where Elwood P. Dowd explains how he met Harvey.

Another all time favorite actor of mine is Jimmy Stewart. I even have a slight connection to him since my great-aunt taught his twins when they were in elementary school.

Harvey has always been another favorite movie of mine. I remember watching it with my dad when I was fairly young and I've loved it ever since. This scene is where Elwood explains just how he met Harvey, who if you don't know, is a giant rabbit that only he can see. I think it's a sweet scene, that tells us a lot about the character of Elwood P. Dowd. It's a scene that makes me cry, just a bit, but don't tell anyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYU6mSIF8ww

8. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. The scene, well as it says on the youtube clip, the scene with Newtonian Physics.

I fell in love with this movie the first time I watched it. I think Gary Oldman and Tim Roth have great chemistry and play off each other very well. Again, with this movie it was hard for me to choose just which scene I liked the best, but I decided on this one as it always makes me giggle when I watch it.

Gary Oldman playing Rosencrantz, or is it Guildenstern, is always "discovering" things. In this particular scene he discovers physics, but when he tries to show Guildenstern or is it Rosenrantz, of course it all goes awry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5_ayuaCzZs


7. The Quiet Man. The scene where Sean Thornton sees Mary Kate Danaher.

This is another movie I love due in part to my dad. He loved John Wayne, and all John Wayne movies. This one was on, every time it was shown on tv. Back in the days before any sort of video cassette or DVD. It of course was usually on around St. Patrick's Day, so I still watch it around that time of year. Again, the chemistry between the beautiful Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne is fantastic. The scenery is beautiful. I think it's just a good movie all round, sure it may be a bit cheesy in parts, but that just adds to its charm.

Ok, so this is where the hopeless romantic in me steps in for a bit. This is just a simple little scene, Sean is out for a smoke and he sees Mary Kate tending her sheep. Just from that one look that passes between them, you can sense the chemistry. You know that somehow, some way they're going to end up together. It's that look of attraction, yet not quite attraction. So simple, yet it says so much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2BEdLZBRJA&feature=related

6. Goodfellas. The scene, that everyone remembers.

What a lot of people may not know about me is that I love movies, books, tv shows, anything to do with mobsters/gangsters. I think I must have been a gun moll in a past life. I don't know where this interest came from, but it's one of those things that's always been there.

Goodfellas is one of my favorite movies, as I've said with all the others. Like I said, I love lots of movies. Instead of going through and trying to pick some obscure scene that I might love. I decided to pick this one. The one where Tommy (Joe Pesci) loses it when someone says he's funny. I don't think I have to explain more since most everyone knows the scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E84VqqCPI7w


5. Amelie. The scene where the mean man gets it.

Well not gets it in a Goodfellas way, he gets what he deserves. Sadly I couldn't find a video clip on youtube, but I'll keep looking and if I find it I'll add it.

In this scene, the grocer down the street who is always putting down his employee gets tricked by Amelie and he begins to think he's losing his mind. At some point Amelie sneaks into his house and switches things around. She switches his slippers for smaller ones, switches his toothpaste, his programmed numbers in his phone, plays around with his light. All sorts of things to make him think that something is going wrong. The best part is when he goes to call his mom, the number she had programmed in there instead, is for the mental hospital. I'm sure I'm not explaining it very well, but just watch the movie. It's a cute, fun movie. On a side note, another great movie with Audrey Tautou is Happenstance or Le battement d'ailes du papillon, which is its original title.

4. Pane e Tulipani (Bread and Tulips). The scene where Costantino Caponangeli first arrives in Venice.

Costantino is a plumber, but is hired by Rosalba's husband to find her. They left her at a service area and she decided to go to Venice for awhile, but she won't let them know exactly where she is. Truth is, she's enjoying being away for a bit. Costantino knows nothing about being a detective, only what he's read in books and comics, but when he's offered the job, which he needs. He accepts. He lives at home and it seems like he's fairly naive and hasn't been away from mama much. He arrives in Venice and gets basically swindled by a guy who tells him that he can give him a great deal on a place to stay. The con artist talks up the place, making it seem like a palace, and at a steep price. Despite the price, Costantino agrees and goes to the address he was given. Turns out the address is a run down boat, not a B&B like he had expected. The look of pure shock and horror on his face when he realizes what has happened is awful, yet at the same time comical. He sucks it up though and in the end comes out better off than he started.

Now, here's where my hopeless romantic strikes again. I can't help it. Despite being fairly unlucky in love, I still am a romantic. At number 3, is a scene from one of my absolute favorite chick flicks, Bridget Jones' Diary. Sad to say after this movie came out, people started calling me Bridget. Too bad there's no Mark Darcy about.

3. Bridget Jones' Diary. The scene where he likes her just as she is.

That says it all. To be honest, it was a toss up for this one. I wasn't sure if the fight scene was my favorite or this one. The romantic in me decided it was this one, well this and the end scene with my favorite line but I didn't pick that one so forget I said that.

In this scene Bridget has had it with just about everything, especially Mark Darcy who she thinks is a pompous ass. She doesn't realize that he really does like her. No need to explain more the scene says it all. Plus Colin Firth is dreamy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS8UffaEf60

2. Love Actually. Yep you guessed it, the scene where he shows his cards.

Again this really needs no explanation. It's one of my favorite scenes, mainly because who wouldn't want Andrew Lincoln showing up at your door professing his love for you. Simple scene, and again so much is said. Not really with words. You can also see it from his side, he's had this crush, he lays it all out there and then gets on with things. Something a lot of us don't have the nerve to do. We'd rather suffer in silence than tell the person we have a crush on how we feel, especially when they're married to their best friend. And yes it's pretty much the same scene as the Bridget Jones one, with different wording, but this is my favorites list so I'm putting them both.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFnSgPC-VXA


And my number one favorite from my hopeless romantic side.....

1. Serendipity. The scene where he finds the book.

My friends always tease me because I watch this movie every time it's on tv. This scene is my favorite in the whole movie, and it makes me cry every single time. Even if I flip to the movie and this part is on, waterworks. I can't help it. It's bittersweet. He finally finds the number for the girl he believes is his soulmate, but he gets it from his fiancee and on the night before his wedding. Again, as with most of the scenes I love, it's all about the look. The look of anguish, yet hope on John Cusack's face just says it all. He knows that if he follows the lead in the book, then he loses his fiancee. It's that moment where he has to decide if chasing Sara is following his destiny or if his destiny is getting married to Halley. It's all about choices and if you believe in fate, destiny, soulmates. It also shows that the Universe does always guide us in the right direction, it just might not be at the right time and it's up to us to choose what we want to do.

So at number one....the scene with the book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFERgatAhIs

Monday, March 28, 2011

100 Facts About Me

Since this is a trending topic on Twitter, I figured I'd do it here rather than clogging up the timelines of people who might not care. Plus I can put more than 140 characters. So here goes.

1. I was born in Alabama and lived there until I was 11 1/2, so yes I used to have a very heavy southern accent.

2. In the span of a year, both grandfathers and my father passed away. I was 17 and had just graduated high school when the first one happened.

3. I've never been to Ireland, but love all things Irish. I think once I go, I won't want to leave.

4. My favorite artist is Gustave Caillebotte but my favorite period in art is the Italian Renaissance.

5. I have a half-brother that I've never met, well we have but I was 6 months old and don't remember, and a half-sister that lived with us for a year when I was about 5. Both are much older than me.

6. One of my goals is to walk the West Highland Way.

7. I'm in the midst of working on finally finishing my B.A. in Art History/Italian.

8. I speak 5 languages other than English. So 6 if you include English.

9. I was teased and picked on a lot when I was younger.

10. One of my favorite bands of all times is Duran Duran, another is the Beatles.

11. I have collected and now own a copy of every Beatles LP that was produced.

12. My favorite Beatle was George.

13. I've been a Liverpool FC fan since I was about 5 and picked their name out of the sports page. It just kind of stuck.

14. Some people think that I'm snobby but really I'm just very shy.

15. Because of all the teasing when I was younger, I'm still fairly self conscious about things.

16. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt until they give me reason to think otherwise.

17. I can't do a cartwheel.

18. I took ballet and tap lessons for 3 years when I was about 8.

19. I went to Canada by myself for a concert. It was the middle of February. Not really one of my best ideas.

20. I'm an aspiring writer and photographer.

21. I love genealogy and have been working on mine for going on 11 years now. Found some interesting characters.

22. I prefer classic B&W movies to color ones.

23. Some of my favorite old movies are The Quiet Man, Arsenic and Old Lace, Laura, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Sunset Strip.

24. My grandmother's cousin once sang backup for Elvis during his gospel years.

25. Met Jeremy Northam once and when I first saw him in the lobby of the theater and he looked at me, I tried to hide behind my pass, which was about the size of an index card. He was about a foot away at the time.

26. I hate when people feel they have to one up me. I'm just telling a story, not trying to compete.

27. I dislike people who are fake or who can't be themselves at all times. Eventually you'll be found out.

28. I could watch Bridget Jones' Diary, Serendipity, Under the Tuscan Sun over and over, and I have.

29. Same goes for Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink.

30. I never try to push my religious or political views on anyone and I hate when people do that to me.

31. I'm addicted to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (or any of the seasonal variations), but I don't like Reese's Pieces. I do like Peanut Butter M&M's. Go figure.

32. I once threw sand at a kid in pre-school because he was bullying my friend. I got sent to the principal's office and then lied and told them I was there because I didn't feel well. They believed me.

33. I have 3 tattoos and want at least one more.

34. I got my eyebrow pierced to piss off my then boyfriend because he was being an ass.

35. My favorite type of flower is a sunflower.

36. I prefer inexpensive, thoughtful gifts to expensive ones.

37. I have a hard time letting anyone do anything for me. I like to do things on my own and if I can't then I just don't do it.

38. I collect rosaries but I'm not Catholic.

39. One of my ancestors was a perfumer in London back in the late 1600's.

40. I can be impulsive and act before I think, but I almost always think before I speak.

41. The only genre of book/film that I don't like is horror. I'm too much of a wuss and get freaked out too easily. I do like things about vampires though. Again go figure.

42. The first concert I went to where I had front row was a NKOTB show.

43. I believe in ghosts and become very uncomfortable in places where they could be. I'm not saying I sense them but I've had some experiences that can't be logically explained.

44. I've been to the Bahamas twice. First time was fab, second time it rained the entire time.

45. I'd rather travel alone so I can do what I want and take my time doing it.

46. I have an autographed photo of Judi Dench. To this day I don't know who sent it. It just showed up in the mail one day.

47. My eyes turn yellow/gold in direct sunlight.

48. I'm scared of thunderstorms.

49. I've been through a hurricane (Hurricane Frederick in 1980 I believe it was).

50. I once met Michael Palin when he came into the museum where I worked.

51. Apparently my mom tells me, my first crush was on Richard Dawson in Hogan's Heroes.

52. I still watch old school cartoons, and was recently upset when watching Scooby Doo and saw they were using technology. I turned it off.

53. I've been known to read tarot cards from time to time, sometimes with accuracy.

54. My first concert was Depeche Mode/OMD back in 1988.

55. I was in the Girl Scouts for 4 years and played Juliette Lowe,their founder, in a play.

56. I hate having to rush anywhere or be rushed. I like to be early if anything.

57. I woke up suddenly the morning of 9/11 because I was having a nightmare where I was trying to run down stairs to get out of a building that was on fire. A few mins later I turned on the news and saw what happened.

58. I had a dream about Dean Martin, then woke up the next morning to find out he had passed away during the night.

59. I'm also addicted to Tunnock's Teacakes.

60. When I was around 5, instead of having a lemonade stand, I had a stand that sold my watercolors that I had done. A grad student bought them all. I made about $5.

61. I wrote a play when I was around 7, that my cousin and I performed for my parents. The one line I remember was "Who do you think we are two monks from a monastery?" For some reason I found that line very funny.

62. My idea of success is making a difference in someone's life.

63. Some people say I'm too nice. I probably agree.

64. My grandparents had a log cabin in Tennessee where we'd go for family holidays. I hated it and every time I went there something would happen to me.

65. My favorite word is prehensile. Try inserting that into everyday conversation.

66. I actually like writing research papers, even though I complain about it at the time.

67. All of my pets have been rescues in one way or another, either from the shelter or other people.

68. I often feel like I don't really belong anywhere. Like I'm always an outsider.

69. I had braces on my teeth for 4 years, complete with headgear. I got them off the day after my senior year pictures were taken. How's that for bad timing.

70. I've tried to feng shui my house and room, not sure if it's working.

71. At one time I thought about being a lawyer.

72. I'm a complete girlie girl but I do have a tomboy side and have been known to climb trees. Must be from having all boy cousins around me when I was growing up.

73. My one college roommate wouldn't play basketball with me because she said she was afraid if she bumped into me I'd break.

74. After Bridget Jones' Diary came out (the movie) people started calling me Bridget.

75. I used to bake cakes and cookies from scratch on a weekly basis.

76. I still wish on stars.

77. A few of my ancestors were beheaded for treason.

78. I love Highland Coos.

79. Some of my best friends are people I met because of Duran Duran.

80. I collect unicorns, dragons, gargoyles, angels and gnomes. Odd combo I know.

81. I love buying school supplies. Reminds me of simpler times.

82. I've never wanted to be famous and I don't like being center of attention. I prefer to stay in the background.

83. I don't like gummy candy of any kind. It weirds me out.

84. I always seem to look at the clock when it's 1:11 or 11:11.

85. I prefer walking around a city rather than taking public transportation or cabs. You get a better feel for the city that way.

86. I don't care for flying but once I'm on the plane I'm fine. It's the sitting waiting to board that bothers me most I think.

87. I love taking the train, especially where I live now and in England. Such beautiful scenery.

88. My favorite colors are any shade of green or purple.

89. I've been called flighty a few times in my life.

90. I hate to do anything half-assed. If I do I feel guilty about it. I always try my best even if I don't really want to and even if it doesn't count.

91. I'm a sap.

92. My favorite book as a child was Benjamin and Tulip. I still love to read it.

93. I started reading when I was around 4 and haven't stopped since. I remember my grandmother buying me Harlequin Romances when I was about 6. I had no idea what they were but I wanted them.

94. I try not to judge people by things I've heard about them, but by how they treat me and how they are with me.

95. I know who my true friends are, the ones that would be there no matter what. I also know who wouldn't be.

96. I can draw and paint fairly well if I really put my mind to it, otherwise not so much.

97. If I don't like an artist's work, I like to read about them so I can get a better understanding of what they're about. Doesn't mean I'll like their paintings or sculptures but I know where they're coming from.

98. I almost always remember my dreams and they're almost always in color. I also once had a dream in Spanish with subtitles.

99. I sometimes get homesick when I leave England or Scotland, and I'm not even from there.

100. I cried when I found out John Wayne died.