Through My Daughter's Eyes

For Addy.

When I started this blog a year ago, my daughter was only 15 months old. Movies were not in her repertoire. Then came her first movies.

Follow That Bird, Bolt, The Little Mermaid, Shrek and Superman.

We're at the stage now where she only likes certain scenes before she grows tired and demands for the next showing from the projectionist (me).

I still and will always remember the first time I sat with her on my lap and we watched Superman for the first time together. I had seen it millions of times before. This one was special.

I proceeded to relay to my daughter what was happening in the movie so that she would understand.

I told her that Jor-el was Superman's daddy and he was a good guy and the 3 villians, Zod, Non and Ursa were the bad guys. The Phantom Zone was of course "time out."

When young Clark kicks the football she always "oooo"'s and she yells "TRAIN" when Clark traverses the Kansas wheat fields.

 I didn't know how I would to tell her when Pa Kent suffers his heart attack. "He's sleeping." (Later my wife informed me you shouldn't relate death to sleeping. Good point) The next viewing when that camera goes wide and you see Jonathan hunch over, she repeated my same words. "He's sleeping." I cried.

And of course, the most damaging of all is all I have to do is hum those 3 notes, C, C, G, and she yells "SUPERMAN."

Having children is such a rewarding experience. But to have them love the movies you love is breathtaking. I grin from ear to ear thinking of the days when she'll be old enough to watch Back to the Future, Jaws, A Clockwork Orange....strike that last one.

Do you remember...

I know it's been a while since I've posted. It's been hectic with school starting back up and I'd rather post quality than quantity.

Anywho, more and more lately I've been having vivid flashbacks to when I was younger. A lot of them related to movies.

The sights, sounds, surroundings, feelings rush at me and emotionaly knock me over.

For example:

Casper was released on May 26, 1995. I don't remember seeing it in theaters but I do remember that the VHS came out in October of that year. It was the stretch between Halloween and Christmas when I remember my Sundays were spent after homework was done, the fireplace crackling, following my then crush, Christina Ricci and Casper on their adventure at Whipstaff Manor. Never did I ponder that I'd be thinking about those moments 15 years later.

First off, Hook is not a bad movie. I'm not certain if people are turned off by Peter Pan growing up or what. Music is wonderful by John Williams. Yes I may be biased because it's a Spielberg film but there are worst movies. Hook will be celebrating it's 20th Anniversary in December of this year. I remember going to see this in a theater in Chillicothe with my dad and sister, who now that I think about it was only 4 1/2 at the time. I wonder if she remembers. Anywho, I remember the theater was down a hill and the roads were wet from snow that had fallen. When we went in, it was light out, but something happened that when we left it was twilight. I sit here writing and I feel that something about that was magical to me.

Finally, the E.T. VHS came out on October 27, 1988. The casing was black with the top shield being green. I thought that was totally awesome that they did that for the movie because of E.T's home, the Green Planet. Turns out it was to detect counterfeit tapes. Pepsi also ran promotions with the video release. I have somewhere in my collection a cutout from a 12 Pack Pepsi case, featuring a drawn Elliott and E.T. whisking away from the moon. I rode my back around the neighborhood, Spring of 89' thinking I was being followed. I would lift up on the handle bars, hoping I would soar into sky.

On the negative side, the thing I remember about seeing "Hitch" was that I broke up with an ex the next day.

My point is we can remember a movie and like, love or hate it. But there is so much more.

So think about it. Think about a favorite movie or the first time you saw a film. What do you remember?

Happy Birthday Audrey Hepburn

Today would have been Ms. Hepburn's 82nd birthday if not for her passing away from appendicular cancer on Jan. 20, 1993.

Ms. Hepburn was a beautiful and wonderful actress with starring roles in such films as Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sabrina and Wait Until Dark.

Her final film would be Steven Spielberg's "Always" in which she plays Hap, an angel sent to help Richard Dreyfusss'(is that right?) characters' transition from life to death.

Below is a scene from "Breakfast at Tiffany's with Audrey singing Henry Mancini's beautiful piece, "Moon River"



And also Happy Birthday to my sister, Patty.

Breaking the Fourth Wall

Ok. Another film lesson that is relatively easy.

In a story, you have to think that the people in it are in their own world without outside influences. When 2 people are talking in a room or there is a party at a warehouse, there are hypothetically speaking, 4 walls.

Now, what you may have noticed, mostly in comedies, is that sometimes the character will reverence the audience, which wouldn't normally happen in "their world."

First example that comes to mind is from "Blazing Saddles." Hedley Lamarr is sitting at his desk, contemplating who to send to Rockridge to create hysteria so that plans for the railroad can proceed.

"If I could find a sheriff who so offends the citizens of Rock Ridge that his very appearance would drive them out of town."
[looks into the camera]
"But where would I find such a man?"
[pause]
"Why am I asking you?"

Another example below is from another Mel Brooks film. If you think about it, in every Mel Brooks film there's a breaking of the wall. This one is literal.



And finally, a personal favorite. You'll have to follow the link since no one with the scene will let me have an embedded link. Sigh.

Superman Ending

So what's your favorite "breaking the wall" moment?

Be sure to comment here or at Twitter. @MovieMorty It's good to be back.

How I Rate Movies

I'll admit that this is kind of a blow off post. But without enough time to watch a movie and no good clips to post, it'll do.

There are certain things I take into account when watching a movie.

Like the acting, relationships, story, camera shots I remember, music relation to scene, feelings, so on and so forth.

Below is the rating system I use.

5 Stars- Will see it twice or more in  theaters, buy the Blu-ray and soundtrack if music is good.

4.5 Stars- Would possibly see it again and possibly buy Blu-ray

4 Stars- Wouldn't rule out ever seeing it again. Won't buy Blu-ray

3.5 Stars- Won't see again. Possibly recommend to certain people

3 Stars-Won't see again

2.5 Stars- Would wonder why I saw it

2 Stars- Will not recommend to the public. People are idiots if they liked it

1.5 Stars- So far, there is only one film I would give this rating to

1 Star- Brain Dead

I'll never give anything below 1 star because as much as a movie could suck, work was still put into and I couldn't deny them at least something.

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Yes. I Cry At the Movies.

There. I said it. I'll go one further. You're not a man if you can't cry during a movie.

I'm not saying you have to bawl at the end of "Sleepless in Seattle" or "Beaches."

But when Bambi's mother dies or Ray Kinsella asks his deceased father to have a catch, perspiration best be forming in your peepers.

It is a perfectly normal and healthy reaction to let a movie move you.

However there is a line. You don't need to be hyperventilating, tears rushing, yelling "HE HAD HER AT HELLO."

Especially not good for a date but we'll save "Perfect Date Films" for another post.

Everytime I watch "The Land Before Time" and "UP", multiple tears exit the canal.

The end of "ET" when the music is building as the ships door closes then there is a 2 sec silence with a close up of Henry Thomas, I'm overwhelmed and perhaps a couple tears.

Hell, I even got emotional from "Inception" during the hallway corridor fight but that is more a film makers sensory overload.

And why haven't you seen "Inception"?

Ok. Your turn. When have you guys and gals cried? Your answers will be kept safe on the internet.

Comment here or on the Twitter @moviemorty

Seriously?

It has always been really hard for me to admit that even though I love and live for movies, I have not seen anything.

To prove my point, hrere is a list from the the Top 25 IMDB films I've never seen.

1. The Shawshank Redemption
2 & 3. The Godfather I and II
4. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
11. Star Wars: Episode V
12. LOTR: Return of the King
13. Seven Samurai
15. Goodfellas
17. Casablanca
18. City of God
20. Once Upon A Time in the West
25. The Usual Suspects

I knew I was bad. Didn't know it was this bad. NetFlix and I are going to be spending some more time together.

Also I am sorry for the lack of posts and less glitzyness. The computer is on the fritz so I am using my phone. Will make due.

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1 out of 24FPS

First, a lesson on film making.

FPS stands for Frames Per Second.

For most films, 24 pictures are taken in 1 second. Some tv shows use a faster rate, that's why Full House looks different from Family Matters. Think about it.

My point being is that I'm sure all of us can pick out one frame that will be embeded in our brains till the day we die.

For some, it could be an archaeologist in a cavern, escaping a huge round boulder.

Or maybe it's a Death Star exploding after the kid and the Rebel Alliance get off a perfect shot.

Probably for most guys it's the perfect girl next door, just out of the pool, slow motion, unhooking her bikini top and exposing...anyway.

Mine, a boy and his new found friend sweeping across the crisp night sky, in front of a fully lit moon.

So. What do you got? What 1 out of 24FPS do you have burned into your head?

Comment here or on the Tweet thingy. @MovieMorty