Archive for the 'Favorite Movies' Category

My Fave: Roman Holiday

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

 

So, a princess, played by Audrey Hepburn, is on tour in Italy.  She’s tired of her official duties and strict schedule.  Instead, the princess wants to be a regular person and see Italy as such.  Sneaking out into public, incognito, she gets her wish when meets a handsome young man, played by Gregory Peck, who takes her around.  They have fun and fall for each other.  There’s one important thing about him that she doesn’t know.   He’s a journalist and could expose her secret.  What’s a princess to do?

One of the reasons I like this movie is not only the storyline and the actors, but I love the setting.  Anything to do with Italy, I love.   I think it’s a romantic country.  Rome is a city of romance. 

This 1953 romantic comedy is an oldie but goodie.  Have you seen any oldies but goodies lately?

Paz


My Fave: Flashdance

Monday, October 12th, 2009

 

Who can forget this 1983 movie about Alex, a young girl who works as a welder by day and an exotic dancer by night.  Her true dream is to study at a prestigious ballet school in town and become a ballerina.  She falls in love with her boss and vice versa.  The movie reminds me in someways of the older Harlequin Romance stories — young, poor girl, meets older, rich man.  They end up falling in L-O-V-E.  When I was younger, I loved reading Harlequins and still have my favorites. 

 

Some sexy parts of Flashdance:

1-  When Nick (the boss) comes over to her apartment and Alex removes her bra (while watching T.V.) without removing her top.  Nick’s mesmerized.  Speechless.

2-  Having dinner with Nick, Alex’s eating her lobster.  She removes her jacket and is wearing a halter-type shirt with bowtie.  He likes what he sees.

 

Favorite line occurs when Nick the boss first sees Alex dancing, he’s mesmerized and his friend Pete says, "Number 174631503."

Nick:  "Pete, I don’t want her zip code."

Pete:  "It’s her Social Security number.  She works for you."  

 

The soundtrack is still fun to listen to; the dances are still fun to watch.

Oh, and I liked Alex’s dog, a cute light brown haired pit bull named Grunt.

The scene where Alex auditions for the ballet school is also a favorite.  I used to dance and had a pair of leg warmers like Alex. 

Oh, what a feeling!

 
 

My Fave: Coming to America

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009

 

Coming to America is one of my oldie but good favorite movies.  This 1988 movie starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall,  Darth Vader  James Earl Jones and other well-known actors always has me laughing, no matter how many times I’ve seen it.

The movie is about an African prince from a fictitious country called Zamunda.  Interestingly enough, there really is an African country (off the coast of Africa) called Zamunda.   I suppose, the writers didn’t realize that.

In the film, a marriage has been arranged for the African prince.  However, he isn’t interested in the woman his parents have choosen.  He wants to pick his own woman.  He wants a woman who will appeal to his "intellect as well as his loins," he says.  So, he decides to go to America (Queens, New York to be exact) to look for his Queen.   Get it?  He thinks he’ll find his Queen in Queens.  LOL!   Yeah, well, actually he does, but a whole lot of funny stuff happens along the way, starting right when he steps foot in America. 

For example, the diiferent women the Prince meets in bars are hysterical.  Then there’s a singer and his music group called Sexual Chocolate (the name alone has me dying with laughter).   There’s a scene were the Prince arrives in Queens and his luggage is stolen.  The next morning, people in the neighborhood are walking around with African outfits that clearly don’t belong to them.  Too funny.

Perhaps, I find the movie even funnier and could relate to some of those scenes because I lived in Africa  before living in the U.S.  I’ve seen and heard many comments based on sterotypes, which the movie brings out in jest.

Also, I know a girl who appeared in Coming to America.  She was one of the dancers and the bathers.   It’s always fun to see her in the movie, too. 

Oh!  And I liked the references to the 1983 movie Trading Places in the film.

Last of all, I enjoyed how the movie ends in a larger than life, fairy tale wedding — in Africa.  Very cool.   

Have you seen this movie?  What did you think?

 
 

My Fave: Guys and Dolls

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

 

Recently I saw another favorite:  Guys and Dolls.  It stars Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine.  Now, I know that Marlon Brando is famous for other well-known films like The Godfather, A Streetcar Named Desire and Apocalypse, but I’ll always remember his lead performance in the film musical, Guys and Dolls.

I love the typical but special story of a bad boy (Gambler Sky Masterson) who meets a good girl (Missionary, Sergeant Sarah Brown).  Sparks fly, then they find themselves in love when the dust settles.  I love that actor Marlon sings.  I wouldn’t have known that he had a singing voice from watching his other movies but he does.  He played a convincing Hero.

One of my favorite scenes is when Marlon sings I’ll Know — a song about how his character will recognize real love.   I also enjoy when he sings Luck Be a Lady Tonight. 

I like the heroine, Sergeant Sarah Brown, too.  This ‘good’ girl is a real good girl who has spunk and can hold her own when things get rough.  Sky Masterson soon realizes this when they go to Cuba on a date and she gets into a fight with another woman who is trying to steal  his attention away from her. 

Have any of you seen this movie?  I always enjoy watching it.


My Fave: Three Coins in the Fountain

Sunday, March 15th, 2009

 

Another old movie recently seen on T.V.  — Three Coins in the Fountain.

This romantic comedy is about three American women who find love in Italy.  

I always enjoy watching this 1954 movie, especially for the beautiful and romantic shots of Rome, Venice and the Italian countryside.  Italy is one of my favorite and romantic places in the world.   There’s just something about the atmosphere, the language, scenery, people… and let’s not forget the food.   ;-)    It’s definitely the place to find love.

There is a belief/custom that when a visitor throws a coin in the famous Trevi fountain in Rome, one will return to the city.

When I was in Italy, I headed out to the Trevi fountain.  However, on my way there, I found out that the fountain was empty.  It was either being cleaned or under repairs (I don’t remember which now).  So, I made other plans and never got to go there and throw a coin in the fountain.   I wonder if that’s the reason I haven’t returned to Italy in a long time.  I’ll have to make serious plans to visit italy again.   When I do, I’ll make sure to throw a coin in the Trevi fountain.


My Fave: The Big Easy

Saturday, January 10th, 2009

 

  

I was stuck at home.  It was snowing outside.  I decided to channel surf and lo and behold!  What did I find?  The 1987 movie The Big Easy, starring Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin.  The Big Easy!   Yes!

Every once in a while I’m able to catch one of my favorite movies on T.V.

From the first time I saw this sexy thriller that takes place in New Orleans, I loved it.   What a wonderful background to use to tell the story of the laid back cop with a questionable character, Remy McSwain (who is solving mob-related murders) and the sharp  but uptight attorney, Ann Osborne (who is investigating police corruption).  I loved how the passion flared between these two characters on screen.   

There are lots of favorite parts of the movie, one includes actor Dennis Quaid singing, Why You Don’t Love Me Anymore?  *sigh*

I love the sexy, sultry atmosphere, the Cajun music, and the one liners of the movie.

This was a good, hot movie to watch on a cold snowy day.

Have any of you seen this oldie but goodie?

Paz