Top 5 Thursday: Movies I watched for My Challenge (May 2014)

Another great month of movies and I also watched a couple of classics. Again a tough choice, but here are my five favourites of this month.

5. The Debt

I didn’t know what to expect, but I was amazed by the strength of this film. Great acting by Jessica Chastain especially. Fantastic movie.

 

4. Neighbors

A comedy that got it right. This movie made me laugh, that’s what a lot of comedies fail to do nowadays.

 

3. Godzilla

It totally surprised me, I didn’t expect it to end up in my monthly top 5. But it deserves a spot, because it was a fantastic thrill ride!

 

2. Spirited Away

I truly got inspired by this style, I really liked the animation. And also the great story and morals behind this film.

 

1. The Great Escape

I was so glad that I finally saw this movie. It’s fantastic. I just loved how this movie was made, with action, light drama and some wit, not a very common combination for a movie set in World War II.

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: X-Men: First Class, The Goonies

Quotables: "Rocky"

I like “Rocky” mostly because of the great character of Rocky Balboa, an underdog and a very likeable man. The story is believable and realistic, you really sympathize with Rocky. And it also shows how great Sylvester Stallone is as an actor and director. Here are some memorable quotes from “Rocky”.

 

 

 

Rocky: Yea, to you it's Thanksgiving; to me it's Thursday.

Mickey: Your nose is broken.

Rocky: How does it look?

Mickey: Ah, it's an improvement.

 

Rocky: Took you long enough to get here. Took you ten years to get to my house. Huh, what's the matter? You don't like my house? Does my house stink? That's right-it stinks! I didn't have no favors from you! Don't slum around me. Talkin' about your prime. What about my prime, Mick? At least you had a prime! I didn't have no prime. I didn't have nithin'! Leg's are goin', everything is goin'. Nobody's getting' no nothin'. Guy comes up, offers me a fight. Big deal. Wanna fight the fight? Yeah, I'll fight the big fight. I wouldn't wanna fight. Know what's gonna happen to me? I'm gonna get that! I'm gonna get that! And you wanna be ringside to see it? Do ya? You wanna help me out? Huh? Do you wana see me get my face kicked in? Leg's ain't workin', nothing's workin', but they go, "Go on, fight the champ." Yeah, I'll fight him. Get my face kicked in. And you come around here. You wanna move in here with me? Come on in! It's a nice house! Real nice. Come on in and move. It stinks! This whole place stinks. You wanna help me out? Well, help me out! Come on, help me out. I'm standin' here!

Adrian: Why do you wanna fight?

Rocky: Because I can't sing or dance.

Apollo Creed: Apollo Creed vs. the Italian Stallion. Sounds like a damn monster movie.

Rocky: I just want to say hi to my girlfriend, OK? Yo, Adrian! It's me, Rocky.

 

Rocky: Don't smoke that. It makes your breath like garbage.

Marie: Maybe I like garbage.

Rocky: [putting out the cigarette] Nobody likes garbage!

Rocky: I think we make a real sharp couple of coconuts - I'm dumb, you're shy, whaddaya think, huh?

Video of the week (6)

I saw this clip on totalfilm.com, where they summed up the best cover songs from Disney and Pixar movies. Meet Sam and Nia, the so-called 'Good Looking Parents'. While riding their car they're lip syncing to a song from "Frozen". While their child in the back is slightly unimpressed with it, I sure as hell was. They are awesome, they perfectly lip sync this song. You rock Sam and Nia!

 

Movie Moments: This is the End

This movie could go in two different directions: it was either going to really bad or brilliantly funny. Thank God it was the last, because some of my favorites are in here. James Franco and Seth Rogen are amazing, I really enjoyed this movie. So here are my favorite moments from “This is the End”.

 

Moment # 1: Cleanse

Seth just picked up Jay from the airport. Jay wants to get hamburgers, but Seth tells him he’s on a cleanse. He’s not supposed to be eating glutens. Jay thinks it’s a load of crap and the two start a discussion about it.

Moment # 2: The end begins

Jay and Seth go out to buy cigarettes, then all of a sudden blue beams come from the sky and start sucking people up in the sky.

Moment # 3: Michael Cera dies

L.A. is on fire and Michael Cera starts worrying about his phone. Someone took it. But that’s the least of his worries, because he gets skewered by a telephone pole.

Moment # 4: Milky Way

The guys list their food supplies and start fighting over a Milky Way.

Moment # 5: Emma Watson

Emma Watson shows up at the house and just wants to get some sleep. She overhears a conversation between the guys, but mishears it. She decides to get the hell out of there and take some provision with her.

Moment # 6: Magazine

James gets angry when he finds out someone masturbated onto his porno magazine. It appears it was Danny who did that, so the two start a heated discussion about masturbation.

Moment # 7: Closet

Jonah has been possessed and is now chasing James and Seth. They hide in a closet, but Seth’s a very heavy breather so they soon will be found.

Moment # 8: The exorcism of Jonah Hill

The guys decide to perform an exorcism on Jonah Hill. Jay knows how to, because he saw the movie “The Exorcist”.

Moment # 9: The Backstreet Boys

Jay and Seth made it to heaven and they can make any wish they want. Seth wishes for a Segway and Jay for the Backstreet Boys.

 

 

 

Favorite Moment: Moment # 7 : The Closet

Movie Favorites: Avatar

Synopsis: When his brother is killed in a robbery, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid "Na'vi" in order to mine for the precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake gathers intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand - and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora.

 

Unique Selling Point: I have to admit that I was a bit skeptic about this movie. I refused to watch it, because it was hyped so much. It wasn’t until it was released on DVD, that my curiosity won over my will to rebel against the majority. “Avatar” isn’t just another action-packed, special effect spectacle. It has a deeper meaning, global change and the fact that people always destroy beautiful things. I was amazed by the visuals, but the message also grabbed me. I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t get to see it in theaters, because that would be amazing.

Most Valuable Player: Definitely Zoe Saldana, who plays Neytiri, who manages to feel real and she wins your sympathy. She isn’t only gorgeous, but her performance was stunning.

Best Moment: When Jake Sully has to choose an Ikran, but it also has to choose him. When the band is made he and Neytiri fly off. It gave me butterflies in my stomache.

Movie Trailer Sunday (141)

Here are this weeks trailers.

This is Where I Leave You

Description: When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide�driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves.

Director: Shawn Levy

Starring: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne, Corey Stoll, Kathryn Hahn, Abigail Spencer, Dax Shepard and Jane Fonda

Trailer: Trailer "This is Where I Leave You"

Comment: This could be good.

What If

Description: Medical school dropout Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) has been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So while everyone around him, including his roommate Allan (Adam Driver) seems to be finding the perfect partner (Mackenzie Davis), Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan) an animator who lives with her longtime boyfriend Ben (Spall). Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. Still, there is no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder, what if the love of your life is actually your best friend?

Director: Michael Dowse

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Rafe Spall, Adam Driver, Megan Park, Mackenzie Davis, Oona Chaplin

Trailer: Trailer "What If"

Comment: I seeing past Harry Potter now, I think I will like this movie.

Kill the Messenger

Description: Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) stumbles onto a story which leads to the shady origins of the men who started the crack epidemic on the nation's streets, and further alleges that the CIA was aware of major dealers who were smuggling cocaine into the U.S., and using the profits to arm rebels fighting in Nicaragua. Despite warnings from drug kingpins and CIA operatives to stop his investigation, Webb keeps digging to uncover a conspiracy with explosive implications. His journey takes him from the prisons of California to the villages of Nicaragua to the highest corridors of power in Washington, D.C., and draws the kind of attention that threatens not just his career, but his family and his life.

Director: Michael Cuesta

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ray Liotta, Tim Blake Nelson, Barry Pepper, Oliver Platt, Michael Sheen, Paz Vega, Michael Kenneth Williams, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Andy Garcia

Trailer: Trailer "Kill the Messenger"

Comment: I think Jeremy Renner is a good actor and he is surrounded by an all-star cast.

The Book of Life

Description: Manolo (Diego Luna) is a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears.

Director: Jorge Gutierrez

Starring: Diego Luna, Channing Tatum, Zoë Saldana, Ice Cube, Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate, Kate del Castillo, Cheech Marin, Placido Domingo, Hector Elizondo, Ana de la Reguera, Eugenio Derbez, Gabriel Iglesias, Ricardo Sanchez and Danny Trejo

Trailer: Trailer "The Book of Life"

Comment: Guillermo Del Toro produced it and this film has a big Tim Burton feel to it.

A Walk Among the Tombstones

Description: Matt Scudder (Liam Neeson) is an ex-NYPD cop who now works as an unlicensed private investigator operating just outside the law. When Scudder reluctantly agrees to help a heroin trafficker (Dan Stevens) hunt down the men who kidnapped and then brutally murdered his wife, the PI learns that this is not the first time these men have committed this sort of twisted crime, nor will it be the last. Blurring the lines between right and wrong, Scudder races to track the deviants through the backstreets of New York City before they kill again.

Director: Scott Frank

Starring: Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, David Harbour and Boyd Holbrook

Trailer: Trailer "A Walk Among the Tombstones"

Comment: I thought this was a western, just by looking at the title.

In My Mailbox (150)

Only six cards this week. First this amazing postcard from Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. I think it's beautiful, especially the colors. Really inspiring.

 

may 9th 2014

Received: may 25th 2014

Distance: 9,611 km (5,972 miles)

Travel Time: 16 days

I send this hedgehog card a couple of times myself, so I'm really happy to receive it this time. It's from Maasland, Netherlands. Love it!

 

Sent: may 23rd 2014

Received: may 25th 2014

Distance: 144 km (89 miles)

Travel Time: 2 days

My favorite of the week came from Komsomolski, Ukraine. I just love these two lions, gorgeous!

 

Sent: april 23rd 2014

Received: may 29th 2014

Distance: 2,153 km (1,338 miles)

Travel Time: 36 days

From Alexandria, Virginia, US I got this card. When I first got it I didn't know what it was, but it appears to be a Pixar card. I like it.

 

Sent: may 20th 2014

Received: may 29th 2014

Distance: 6,317 km (3,925 miles)

Travel Time: 9 days

I don't know what it is, but this card freaked me out a bit. Those babies look a bit creepy. I got it from Minsk, Belarus.

 

Sent: may 13th 2014

Received: may 29th 2014

Distance: 1,482 km (921 miles)

Travel Time: 16 days

And some beautiful flowers from Bsuch, Austria.

 

Sent: may 26th 2014

Received: may 29th 2014

Distance: 649 km (403 miles)

Travel Time: 3 days

Thanks Fanny, Esmeralda, Slove, Joy, Irina and Aloisia for the great postcard this week!